Although pro-life Repbulican voters rejected the pro-abortion but otherwise well-regarded New York City mayor for the GOP nomination in 2008, Rudy Giuliani is reportedly considering a second run.
CBS news indicates sources close to the former mayor say he is talking to political advisors about another campaign for the Republican nomination, this time to take on pro-abortion President Barack Obama.
Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign won him just one delegate, as he failed to resonate either in conservative Iowa or South Carolina or more moderate New Hampshire. Although he was seen as leading the polls as late as the end of 2007, Giuliani fizzled when the pro-life Republican voters who dominate primary and caucus campaigns showed up to the polls.
The New York Post initially reported the news on Friday morning and Giuliani reportedly believes a GOP campaign filled with conservative candidates like Sarah Palin, Mike Huckbee and others would dillute the conservative vote and give him an opportunity to come away with the nomination.
The Post indicates Giuliani will be in New Hampshire next month to meet with Granite State voters, but the former mayor said he had nothing presidential in mind.
“So far I haven’t found any political advisors to round up,” Giuliani said in an apperance on MSNBC on Friday morning, adding, “of course I keep [running] in the back of my mind.”
“I go to New Hampshire a lot; I don’t have anything scheduled right now,” he said.
The news prompted mixed reviews from Jennifer Cubachi, a conservative blogger.
“I know some conservatives are pushing aside the notion of another run by the Mayor, however, I wouldn’t be so quick to discount him. He has a great record during his mayorship in New York City, was on the right side of many fiscal issues and national security issues, and has a great track record to prove it,” she said. “Now this notion about Giuliani running because there are too many right-wingers is nonsense. I’ve seen him defend conservatives multiple times. He beautifully defended Sarah Palin on The View of all shows, when other republicans would have taken the chance to trounce her.”
She suggested the news may be a media creation while others suggest Giuliani is merely trying to keep his name the political spotlight.
Philip Klein of the American Spectator suggests a bid would not likely be successful.
“As somebody who was initially bullish on a Giuliani run the last time around, I’d have to say the idea of a second bid is ludicrous,” he writes. “He would start a 2012 campaign with the same obstacles on social issues and with his personal life as he faced the last time around, but without several advantages he enjoyed last time.”
