People have been wondering about former mayor Rudy Giuliani's campaign for a long time (his presidential campaign plan notebook went missing last January! he pays more attention to his friends' advice versus that of election consultants). Now, with the Florida primary on the horizon, it seems his New York-based supporters are starting to worry.
The first few weeks of the new year have brought Giuliani embarrassing finishes in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan as well as national polls - ones he used to lead with large margins - where he is now tied or in second or third place. The Times reports "supporters say they are confident that if Mr. Giuliani carries Florida or runs a very close second, he will remain the odds-on favorite" to take all delegates from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. But Cooper Union historian and Giuliani biographer Fred Siegel thinks Giuliani winning Florida requires "a miraculous comeback. I wouldn't bet on it."
Also, Giuliani's strategy to concentrate on Florida might be backfiring among voters. One Florida conservative told Newsday, "It concerns me that he really hasn't campaigned a lot, and he's placing everything on Florida," while another said, "He squandered his lead." And more damning, a Giuliani fan said, "I haven't seen him put out the effort yet." Ouch, but he does have 12 events scheduled for the Sunshine State this week.
Check out this ad Giuliani is running in Florida; it's about Giuliani's tax plan and the Observer thinks the music is Star Wars-y. And the Washington Post's campaign blog spoke to an investment adviser/big game hunter at a speech Giuliani gave for the North Florida Chapter of the Safari Club. He might vote for Giuliani (Mitt Romney is "too much of a slickster"), adding, "What was that lunatic's name -- Al Gore -- can you imagine Al Gore in 9/11?"
Photograph of Giuliani signing a pizza box in Florida yesterday by Mari Darr-Welch/AP
