GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
While Billy Crystal was filling in for Johnny Damon in today’s Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh, fellow lifelong Yankee fan and former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, was also stepping into the batter’s box, pinch hitting for John McCain in Pennsylvania.
NBC/National Journal’s Matthew Berger reports:
With McCain called back to Washington to vote in the Senate, Rudy Giuliani pitched in and headlined a $1,000-a-plate luncheon for the Arizona senator, and said he believed the Republicans can win Pennsylvania. (Watch Video)
“I would consider this for John a very doable state, a state he could win” Giuliani told reporters after the luncheon. “Someone like John McCain that has outreach to independent and to Democratic voters, this is a perfect state for him.” (Indeed, a recent Pennsylvania poll shows McCain leading both Clinton and Obama in the Keystone State.)
Asked about the potential of a McCain-Giuliani ticket, or even a McCain-Romney ticket, Giuliani demurred. “The choice of vice president is up to John McCain,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll make a very good choice. I’m not going to comment on that at all.”
No stranger to New York controversies, Giuliani said his thoughts were with the Spitzer family. “I feel great sadness for the governor and for his family and for his children,” he said. “He made a decision he believed was the right one, and I just pray for them.”
Although he didn’t rule it out, Giuliani said he wasn’t thinking about running for governor himself in 2010. “I’m not considering running for anything right now,” he said. “I’m just back in my law firm, back in business, getting used to my private life, and it’s quite enjoyable. So I’m not thinking about running for anything right now.”
Rudy Giuliani and Tom Ridge will be joining McCain at his Philadelphia fundraiser tonight, per the McCain campaign.
Jerry Gleason of The Patriot-News reports:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain will run strong in Pennsylvania against either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, former New York Gov. Rudy Giuliani said today at the West Shore Country Club.
Giuliani was substituting for McCain, who canceled his appearance at the $1,000-a-plate campaign fundraiser due to a Senate vote on extending the 2001 tax cuts that are due to expire in 2010 and a possible vote on eliminating earmarks. McCain also canceled his planned Harrisburg factory tour.
Earmarks are funds provided by the Congress for pet projects or programs that circumvent the normal allocation process and are considered wasteful, pork-barrel spending.
“No one is more vigilant on doing away them than John McCain,” Giuliani said. “Eliminating them will control spending and make it more accountable.”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to the local press, Thursday, on behalf of the U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign at the West Shore Country Club in East Pennsboro Twp.
Giuliani said current polling indicates that McCain would run ahead of either Clinton or Obama in Pennsylvania.
“This is a good state for John McCain. It’s a state he can win,” he said.
“There are a lot of reasons to vote for him. The fact that he will be strong for the economy and national security are the over-riding ones.”
Giuliani said he wouldn’t speculate on McCain’s choice of a running mate.
“The choice of a vice president is up to John McCain,” he said. “You don’t run for it, you don’t speculate on who it will be.
“There are a lot of good choices.”
March 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Welcome back Rudy.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
McCain/Giuliani!
March 13th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Barf!!! I absolutely won’t vote with a pro-choice VP on the ticket. He could become President.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
McCain/Giuliani fits exactly the qualities McCain has stated he wants in a ticket.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
rudy would have a bigger impact as AG, more power, more influence. and no headaches from pro-lifers. rudy for attorney general!
March 13th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
McCain/Giuliani would lose my support. I’m sorry, but four years of a moderate is bad enough. The 2012-2016 years are when we could really make serious progress on the abortion issue. I DO NOT want an abortion supporter in office when a host of pro-life bills could start walking through the oval office.
McCain has to have a strong conservative on the ticket, someone who can become the heir apparent and lead a united party to another conservative majority in four years. Rudy Giuliani is not that person.
If Rudy wants to be governor of NY, great. If he wants to be AG, great. But DO NOT put that man anywhere near the Presidency.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
> “The 2012-2016 years are when we could really make serious progress on the abortion issue.”
What is it that you’re expecting President McCain to do in his second term?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Let’s all rally for a McCain-Giuliani ticket. Rudy will provide the star power and I agree
with MetroRepublican , the requisites he wants in his running mate- one who has his same
values, philosophy, priorities and concerns. Likewise he will draw independents in all 50
states.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
“What is it that you’re expecting President McCain to do in his second term?”
nothing, because I do not believe McCain will serve two terms. I do not believe that his health or age will permit him to serve two terms as a strong and dedicated leader throughout, and I believe McCain knows this.
However, hopefully a Republican successor could appoint a lasting conservative majority to the court, and sign real limits on abortion into law, probably not a complete ban, but it could go a long way.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
> “I believe McCain knows this”
On what foundation?
March 13th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Did anyone watch McCain on Hannity tonight?
March 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am
McCain wont go with Rudy. Rudy lost big and is seen as a loser.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Rudy is more effective as a surrogate than as a VP candidate. The Rudy supporters, like the Mitt supporters, are mainly wanting their guy to be VP because they think it sets him up for P, not because its actually a strong electoral combination.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
That is absolutely not true in my case Henry. I want Mitt because I believe it does help McCain get elected, because I feel McCain will give him some key rolls where he himself is weak, and only thirdly, because I believe it puts Mitt in the best position to be President in 2012 or 2016. I still see no one with even close to equal credentials, nor do I see anyone who can help him in the close states as much as Mitt.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Yep. Me, too, Henry. Gotta go with what Illinoisguy said.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I supported Rudy to the end of his campaign. But I’m not touting him for VP because McCain needs to strengthen his ticket with a VP more conservative on social issues than Rudy.
However, I’m glad to see Rudy remaining active in speaking on behalf of McCain and I hope we will continue to see him around during the campaign and in public life. It certainly looks like Rudy is staying on message in terms of promoting the advantages of McCain over either Obama or Hillary.