Knepper contra Graham here; I believe that Rudy Giuliani would be a solid vote with the Republican Party about 85% of the time in the Senate. He’d likely only stay for one term if he were elected — maybe two, unless the polls looked bad — and we already know that he’s willing to buck his Democrat constituents to get something done. It’s absolutely preposterous to say that he’d only vote with us 50% of the time.
Right now, he’d be a solid vote against cap-and-trade, the health care scheme, and — looking back — the stimulus.
Once he’s elected, he has three options in front of him.
1. Run for President
Yes, he could. New reports today indicate that he wants to, and he refused to rule it out both on CNN and The View.
Oh, but Mitt, but Mitt — stop wetting your pants, people. Mitt Romney is “the center-right candidate” only when looked at next to Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin. Romney does not have much room to maneuver, given his past shifts. Rudy could suck up all of the McCain voters in the room. Plus, in New Hampshire, there’s no Democratic contest this time around, so he could come in a respectable 2nd place (to Romney) or perhaps even eke out a 1st-place win, if Romney underperforms — there are pitfalls all over for him (what if an individual mandate passes, for instance?). That would give him enough momentum to hit up Florida and then Super Tuesday this time. And a split field could do wonders for him in South Carolina and Nevada. He just can’t come in sixth place this time.
It’s not a crazy idea. He could run again, and he could win now that John McCain is gone. And if 2012 is about size-of-government issues, then watch out. He can run, and he can win. His vice-presidential picks would include Pawlenty, Ryan, and Jindal. (Giuliani-Ryan would be literally the greatest ticket in Republican history.)
2. Endorse Sarah Palin, Become Sarah Palin’s Vice-Presidential Nominee
Oh yes, it could happen. Rudy and Sarah are pretty close, and Rudy is definitely a Palin fan. Rudy could help shore up her appeal amongst college-educated whites, especially in early states like New Hampshire and Florida. He could help craft her platform, fundraise for her, campaign with her — and as a trade-off, become her VP. She’s rural, he’s urban. She’s inexperienced, he’s experienced. She has no foreign policy gravitas, he’s got the moral vision Americans trust. She’s too lightweight, he’s America’s Mayor. She isn’t connected, he was elected to the Senate and has made new friends. They share small-government principles, William Kristol-approved foreign policy ideas, and don’t bother with social crusades. It’s a match made in heaven.
Palin-Giuliani ‘12. If Palin runs, the odds of that ticket coming into fruition are good.
3. Be a Good Senator and Build a Lasting Legacy
Well…this is technically an option…
Talk to Alex Knepper at apkkib@aol.com
November 19th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I think Rudy would be a great VP nod for any of the major contenders (maybe not so much Romney given their geographical proximity). He would help shore up Palin’s considerable experience gap, shore up GOP support in Florida and make New Jersey competitive, reassure Jewish voters (who aren’t particularly keen on her) and reassure moderates that she isn’t the idealogue she’s potrayed as. Of course Rudy as the actual nominee would be even better, but I suspect that even if he wants it he will have to make a committment to voters in 2010 that he won’t run for President first, and he’d have to start campaigning for the Presidency before the votes in his gubernatorial (or senate) bid were even counted.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I don’t think Rudy will run. Rudy never seems to go “all in” when he thinks he has very low chances of prevailing. We saw it in 2008 in Iowa and NH and in SC. We have been seeing it all year long with the pussyfooting around over a decision on whether or not to run for gov and waiting to see what Cuomo would do.
I love Rudy and I would enthusiastically vote for him for president. But, frankly, it’s best that he doesn’t run. If he were to be nominated the so-cons would bolt. We can’t win against Obama without the so-cons.
He’s better off running for, and winning, the US Senate seat. Gillibrand is weak. Rudy should be able to put her away in a favorable GOP year.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:35 am
“Giuliani-Ryan would be literally the greatest ticket in Republican history”
Sorry Alex, but Giuliani-Daniels has to be the dream ticket. Imagine, the man who cleaned up NYC paired with Mr. Fiscal Conservatism. What’s not to like?
November 20th, 2009 at 12:43 am
You guys love to dream, don’t you ? First, figure out how to defend all your noise against the stimulus when it gets our economy back on track by 2012. And , when the troops are back from Iraq and Afghanistan is stable, what exactly are you guys going to run against? Dream on the Rudy will save you. Even your so-called great Ronald Reagan may find it tough to win the WH for you in 2012…
November 20th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I like the sound of Attorney General Rudy Giuliani
OR Secretary of State…
But I’ll settle for Senator of New York, I guess… ; )
November 20th, 2009 at 1:20 am
As living in New York, Rudy for Senate is a dream come true. Realisticly Rudy is the one of the only politicians who could take Gilibrand’s seat.
and to #4, what’s Obama’s approval rating’s again?, I’m a little curious.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:20 am
You mean he’ll come to a decision on Afghanistan by 2012?
November 20th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Giuliani-Ryan would indeed be a fantastic ticket. One of the best ever for the Republicans. It’s a shame it’ll never happen, because:
1. Giuliani will never get the nomination, because of SoCons.
2. If he somehow does, he’ll have to almost immediately announce an extremely socially conservative running mate…possibly months before the convention, in order to keep SoCons aboard. Ryan doesn’t exactly fit…he is a fiscal guy, not social issues. Giuliani would need to pick someone like Palin, Huckabee or Santorum in order to win. (unfortunately)
November 20th, 2009 at 2:00 am
ALEX WHY DO YOU SAY THINGS LIKE SARAH COULD BE PRESIDENT??
Did you not hear what she said about the jews!!
It’s honestly like believing in Saint Nicholas.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:02 am
By the way Rudy won 1 single delegate at the height of his powers in 2008 (literally)!
Why on earth would he do better 4 years later, 12 years after he’s had a job!?
November 20th, 2009 at 2:09 am
#10, many reasons.
1. In 2008, voters were looking for Reagan 2.0, ultra conservative. Giuliani didn’t fit that mold, at all. (yes, I know McCain won but that was a fluke)
2. GOP rarely nominates someone on their first presidential campaign.
3. In 2012, there will be a big gap for a moderate candidate to fill. If you remember, Romney ran as an uber-conservative in 2008, farther to the right of Huckabee, and basically everyone…if he were to run as a moderate in ‘12, that would be a huge flip flop. Giuliani, however, can still reasonably claim to be moderate, and win by being the reasonable one against three rabid conservatives.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Kevin if anything the famous “base” has become MORE conservative since 08.
You can’t win the nomination starting in Floria and he simply can’t win any of the earlier states even if he tried this time.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:29 am
heath- what did palin say about “the jews”?
November 20th, 2009 at 2:34 am
giuliani/daniels, comb overs you can believe in
November 20th, 2009 at 2:36 am
all this doesnt matter if rudy doesnt begin to campaign the way he used to for mayor. he used to be a force of nature, but in 2008 he was a part time candidate, skipping most of the important states and waiting for the nomination to fall in his lap. he has to work the way mccain and mitt did, if he did that i think he would have a good chance.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:23 am
Rudy really won’t be able to win with an even more conservative base than last time, especially since the primary schedule doesn’t give him a chance to win any early state.
If Giuliani endorsed Palin he could be her VP assuming she would win.
I think he is running for Senate based on the fact that it is an easy win and Cuomo could sweep in at any time to take the governorship.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:24 am
She said as all the overseas jews are coming back to Israel in droves so we should support settlements (or wtte).
Weird!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
A Guliani/Huckabee ticket could be a winner. Of course to be the nominee next time around he will have to actually run a campaign which means no skipping Iowa or New Hampshire.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Primary season starts right after the 2010 elections. Senator Guiliani’s term would end with the 2012 elections. I don’t see how he can start running for President immediately after being elected Senator, and stop being Senator more or less when he is done running for President. It doesn’t make sense, and quite frankly, would be an affront to the people of New York.
If Rudy runs for Senate, I think he’ll have to make some kind of firm pledge that he isn’t running for President.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Mitt already defeated Guiliani. He chased him away from Iowa and New Hampshire. Bring it on.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Guiliani would have pretty much run for President and the Senate at the same time and like MWS said it would be an affront to the people of NY. I don’t see him doing both.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Who’s Ryan??
November 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Congressman!
Hardcore capitalist!
November 20th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
You are dreaming…. Rudy goes nowhere in ‘12. Even worse than he did in ‘08. He’s pro-choice — Palin would never go down that road. He also has a lot of baggage and skeletons. I think in the end Rudy is a no-go: no Senate or Gov or president. Just a noun, verb, 9/11 and pro-choice in the end. That doesn’t work in the current GOP. Rudy’s a heck of a lot more qualified than Palin could ever DREAM to be. But, just ask Tom Ridge how that worked out for him…
November 20th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
LOL – Giuliani tried his hardest in 2008, and got one single delegate. He is definitely a qualified executive, but he just doesn’t want it enough.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Mitt Romney has been the #1 fund raiser and speaker for most Republicans trying to get elected this past year. Let’s elect a smart, hard-working, and yes conservative Republican who will stand up for pro-life, a strong military, and securing our borders. Actions speak louder than words. His actions have come from one with a pure heart from the way he looked down at his wife at his religious speech to the reason he was for a woman’s right to choose, then seeing an aborted fetus put the weightier matter of pro-life first. I hope Giuliani runs for the Senate although I wish he was pro-life.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Amazing… in early 2007, you guys were busy matching up Rudy vs.Hillary, and that was just 1 year prior to the General. And, here you guys , are again singing Rudy’s praises, 3 years ahead !!
He has to also contend with that loony Lou Dobbs, as well now..siphoning off Republican votes..
It is gonna be a 2nd term for the President.. No doubt about it.
And, in case you forgot, just recall the political obituaries you guys were writing about Bill in late ‘93….