Nevada Brings Clinton, Romney Wins; McCain Wins S.C.
Giuliani Keeps Waiting for Florida

Over the weekend, Democratic and Republican caucuses were held in Nevada, bringing victory to Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney while John McCain won the South Carolina primary (the Democratic primary will be held next Saturday).

While Clinton won in Nevada, Barack Obama's close second and his possible win of one more Nevada delegate than Clinton means that a Democratic front runner is far from certain. John Edwards, though, only managed 4% of the vote and heads to South Carolina, whose primary is on January 26, needing a win to stay competitive.

Romney heard about his win in Nevada while on his way to Florida where the primary will take place on January 29. McCain's S.C. primary win has made him the real comeback story of the 2008 election - especially given his 2000 primary against George Bush, where a smear campaign falsely implied McCain's adopted child (from Mother Theresa's Bangladesh orphanage) was a love child and that his wife was a drug addict. Still, like the Democrats, it's unclear who has the edge going into Florida.

Which brings us to former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has been focusing a lot of his attention on Florida, in hopes he can capture Florida and then New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. On This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Giuliani had to answer some tough questions about his strategy:

STEPHANOPOULOS: Mayor, you weren't even in the game yesterday -- sixth in Nevada, sixth in South Carolina. Ron Paul beat you twice. How do you spin that?

GIULIANI: We're concentrating on Florida. We've been here for two weeks. We've been campaigning here not quite full-time, but just about full-time for two weeks. We decided some time back that this is the place where we should put our most emphasis, that it worked out strength and weaknesses the best, and now we're ready for it.

We're ready for everybody to come down here, join us, start talking about who can lower taxes the most, who has the best record of a tax cutter, who's had the best record of stimulating an economy, which is so important, to people of Florida, the people of America.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But Mr. Mayor, when we spoke to you before Christmas, you said you were going to play in Iowa. You spent more than $2 million in New Hampshire, had more than 100 events there. There have now been six contests, and you've come in sixth or last five times. What do you say to Florida Republicans who are looking for a candidate who has proven they have broad-based support across the party, across the country?

GIULIANI: I say Florida can prove that. Florida is a microcosm of the country. It's a large state. It has virtually every, you know, diverse group that you can think of in different parts of the state, different economies in different parts of the state, different industries. This is a state that reflects America to a large extent, and we know this is the state that determined our president in the year 2000, so it's a state that's also very politically aware.

And the big issues here are the big issues in the country: Who can stimulate the economy, who can lower taxes. I have the biggest tax cut plan of anyone running. I have the most experience in cutting taxes of anyone running. And I've shown that it can work, that you can actually cut taxes and raise revenues, which is what really you have to do now if you want to deal with the deficit by also reducing spending.

Giuliani started a two-day bus tour across Florida yesterday.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 21, 2008 7:51 AM

Comments [rss]

S.D.

Tim N., Some People, Not just the *cough* (gasp) Former Mayor, use that as a "reason" as to why they're doing bad politically....

Tim N.

OK, just for the record, #5 and #7 I, like Giuliani and Cuomo and, one can assume, you two, are also Italian-American. Perhaps the reason people don't like Rudy doesn't have to do with the fact that his name ends in a vowel so much as it does with the fact that he's just an asshole.

Though, I will admit, he does remind me of one of my nutty Italian aunts. She also was off her rocker and always thought she was right.

MaiaW

Anyone see Charlie Wilson's War? Loved the Giuliani digs...

coolmidwestguy

Mccain's daughter there looks pretty hot, the tall willowy type. Funny thing, she always comes across on tv as looking like a flight attendant, at least what they USED to look like.

freddyhere

No, the Giuliani campaign makes it sound as though it were a conscious effort on their part to concentrate only on Florida, when in fact they really had no choice. Rudy's poll numbers began plummeting soon after the Kerik debacle and the "chauffeur for mistress" bit. To only make matters worse, Giuliani just isn't a warm and fuzzy kind of guy and doesn't do well with retail politicking which was crucial in the earlier states. I think his big strategic error was in spending close to $3 million in New Hampshire when he should have concentrated his efforts in S Carolina, which has a more significant Republican base. This entire "unconventional strategy" just illustrates what a fraud Rudy Giuliani is and how flawed his judgment is.

Spirit of 76

I can't wait for New York. It should be very embarrassing when the Rude-ster not only wins no other state, he can't even win his home state.

Gwinny

Not only was Rudy wearing too much makeup (it looked like he had eyeliner on!) but it also looks like he may have had some sort of eye-tuck or facelift procedure. Yuck!

JRod5417

The problem with Giuliani is that he put all his political eggs in the Florida basket so to speak. He's let several primaries go by and has lost any momentum he had coming into the primary season. A risky and (likely) poor strategy. Time will tell.

GUINEAPIG

It's interesting how this country is more ready to embrace an African-American than an Italian who has been in the political limelight much longer. Perhaps it's true what Mario Cuomo said when he was asked years ago why he never ran for the presidency. I don't recall what he said exactly but it revolved around the notion of Italian Americans being stereotyped as dishonest, dirty and corrupt criminal elements.

S.D.

Ok, Here is a herculean Attempt:

Is it at all possible for...

(Struggling here!)

Rudy...

(gasp!)

Giuliani...

(whew!)

to have a decent photo of himself taken?

dooWOP

There's the man of the hour! Doesn't he just look Presidential? With the Florida GOP race real tight currently, Rudy should easily break out from the pack when voters realize he is the only fiscal conservative and a proven leader on the ticket.

Florida is Rudy Country!

Dave Hogarty

I can't wait for Florida, if only so someone can slink off the stage.

Gothamist_Cynic

Rudy is scum.

tnturner

I managed to stomach that interview yesterday. You can't tell by this picture but, a little too much eye make-up Rudy. Freakish!

Tim N.

Loser.

Memo to 9/11 Whore: In politics, if you want to win something, you've got to win something.

Rudy will third in FLA, behind McCain and Huckabee, in some order, and maybe Romney if he gets hot. Then he will be nothing more than a figure of fun, the adult version of the little boy that got thrown in the mud in Brooklyn that he talks so often about.