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Now that former mayor Rudy Giuliani is getting ready to officially throw in the presidential nomination race towel after his third place finish in the Florida primary, Giuliani watchers seem to be enjoying the chance to analyze his campaign's stunning collapse.
Giuliani had led national polls and seem to be a strong contender last year, but when it came down to performing at primaries and caucuses, voters weren't very convinced. Some highlights from the analysts:
- Michael Powell and Michael Cooper have a lengthy article in the NY Times and suggest that perhaps "The more that Republican voters saw of him, the less they wanted to vote for him."
- New York magazine's John Heilemann discusses Giuliani's "Precipitous Collapse" and writes, "The deeper issue with Giuliani’s candidacy, though, was that it offered no coherent or compelling rationale for its existence. The notion that he could do for America what he did for New York City was always going to be a tough sell; the presidency is not a mayoralty writ national."
- The Daily New's Michael Goodwin offers, "That he was never able to close the deal with voters has given rise to speculation among some supporters that his heart was never in the race. They point to a campaign team that had little national experience and an unwillingness by Giuliani to separate himself from his consultant and legal businesses before he entered the fray."
- The Sun's Nicholas Wapshott believes strategy was Rudy's downfall, "Mr. Giuliani's Florida gambit, which must have seemed so plausible over a good lunch in Midtown Manhattan, has proven to be disastrous. He put all his chips on a single number, gambled, and lost."
- Newsday's Dan Janison brings up Giuliani's own book on Leadership: "'Prepare relentlessly,' he wrote. Like, say, by blowing off one key early primary and trying to downplay your efforts in the next?"
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God, where do you start?
The fact that he thought he could win this thing without actually winning anything (i.e. IA, NH, MI, etc.) is probably a good place. The fact that he thought he was famous enough that people's breasts would leap and fingers would twitch by just seeing him on a ballot. The fact that he thought, as he said in his own book, that he was smarter and had more vision than everyone else (paraphrasing, but it's in there).
Or maybe the fact that trying to scare the bejesus out of the electorate may be an old idea. Anyone notice how he went about his business in Florida? Talking, almost exclusively, to the snowbirds, most of whom moved south when the "neighborhood started changing" (i.e. when the blacks or other races moved in). Rudy is known amongst these folks as the man who tamed the blacks in NYC (that's one definition of getting crime under control) and gave them "one less reason to be afraid." They don't know Bill Bratton and Jack Maple from a hole in the wall, but they feel that Rudy is "one of them." And if he could make the blacks go away, he could make the Arabs go away, too. This is, of course, despicable politics, but was also effective for two mayoral terms and in the early going of the campaign.
Maybe enough people began to see that this was what he was all about, and that if you try to look for something else, you'll just find an empty suit with a gold-digging wife.
Given all this, it will be interesting to see if McCain takes him seriously at all when he's putting his running mate list together.
I, for one, would like to scream and shout that the 9/11 Whore is dead, but my cynical nature tells me we haven't seen the last of him.
Too lazy, so I'm copying & pasting:
http://gothamist.com/2008/01/29/mccain_wins_flo.php#comments
For immediate release
Thank you all for helping me realize how ridiculous of a campaign I've run. The critics have labeled my campaign as unconventional, but somewhat plausible given the fluidity of the race. I am happy to prove them wrong. It is just downright idiotic to think that we can defy common sense and come up with a half-baked plan of our own. The precipitous drop from party poll leader to laughingstock has no political precedent. I would normally take credit for this, but realized that I could not have orchestrated this disaster alone. I cannot possibly thank each and every one of you, but I owe special thanks to:
My campaign - for being spineless yes-men, and agreeing to each and every one of my hairbrained ideas. It goes to show that hiring highly paid consultants that sap crucial campaign funding is a surefire way to fail. I thank you.
My donors - for your expendable contributions, and your belief that I would return the political favor should I get elected. You really did not support a campaign that ran on the fear and retrospect of the past. It never mattered as long as we made money, and protected our interests.
The media and press - liberal or not, you deserve much credit in bringing forth a steady slew of negative reports, reminding everyone of my lesser known facts. I knew that pissing you off in the past would pay dividends in my eventual failure run for higher office.
My family - Though I'm not quite sure how this would be defined, being alienated affords me more time to concentrate on more important things. I guess. I really don't know.
New York City - we've been through good times and bad times. But mostly good times, because it was a mess when I got it, and I singlehandedly banished the homeless and squeegee people.
Bernard Kerik - My esteemed driver and then Corrections Department head. I can't thank you enough for your role in deep sixing my assinine campaign.
Ed Norris - Much lesser known than Kerik, former NYPD and Baltimore police chief and radio personality, your support and unique character has been an asset to my campaign.
NYPD Mayoral Detail - for keeping us company on all our trips to.....well, thanks.
Jim Riches & Co.- for renting a giant inflatable rat, and following me around Florida. You are a man of admirable fortitude. That giant rat must be heavy.
Florida Governor Crist - who saw the light, and realized it makes sense to stand behind someone who had an actual chance of winning.
Former Rep. Chairman Mel Martinez - for thwarting my efforts of pandering to the large Cuban-American community, of which I have no concern for except their votes.
Jon Voight - for your support, when others saw prudent to keep their distance. Thanks Jon. I saw Midnight Cowboy once.
My private sector associates - (Giuliani Partners, Bracewell Giuliani...ad nauseus) I thank you for buying into and selling my schtick, and acting as willful accomplices.
My controversial clients - for believing that vast amounts of money and a self-described high-powered personality will sometimes help you achieve your goals. Thank you.
Last, and certainly not least, all of my supporters - for insisting that my controversial record of cleaning up NYC is accurate, and supercedes any allegations of bad judgement and conflicts of interests. You try your best to spin the image that I am not a shameless, vindictive, petty dictator, when in fact, I am.
Without your support, this failure of a presidential campaign, and my private sector smoke and mirrors act would not have been possible. To you, I owe my greatest gratitude.
Too lazy, so I'm copying & pasting:
http://gothamist.com/2008/01/29/mccain_wins_flo.php#comments
For immediate release
Thank you all for helping me realize how ridiculous of a campaign I've run. The critics have labeled my campaign as unconventional, but somewhat plausible given the fluidity of the race. I am happy to prove them wrong. It is just downright idiotic to think that we can defy common sense and come up with a half-baked plan of our own. The precipitous drop from party poll leader to laughingstock has no political precedent. I would normally take credit for this, but realized that I could not have orchestrated this disaster alone. I cannot possibly thank each and every one of you, but I owe special thanks to:
My campaign - for being spineless yes-men, and agreeing to each and every one of my hairbrained ideas. It goes to show that hiring highly paid consultants that sap crucial campaign funding is a surefire way to fail. I thank you.
My donors - for your expendable contributions, and your belief that I would return the political favor should I get elected. You really did not support a campaign that ran on the fear and retrospect of the past. It never mattered as long as we made money, and protected our interests.
The media and press - liberal or not, you deserve much credit in bringing forth a steady slew of negative reports, reminding everyone of my lesser known facts. I knew that pissing you off in the past would pay dividends in my eventual failure run for higher office.
My family - Though I'm not quite sure how this would be defined, being alienated affords me more time to concentrate on more important things. I guess. I really don't know.
New York City - we've been through good times and bad times. But mostly good times, because it was a mess when I got it, and I singlehandedly banished the homeless and squeegee people.
Bernard Kerik - My esteemed driver and then Corrections Department head. I can't thank you enough for your role in deep sixing my assinine campaign.
Ed Norris - Much lesser known than Kerik, former NYPD and Baltimore police chief and radio personality, your support and unique character has been an asset to my campaign.
NYPD Mayoral Detail - for keeping us company on all our trips to.....well, thanks.
Jim Riches & Co.- for renting a giant inflatable rat, and following me around Florida. You are a man of admirable fortitude. That giant rat must be heavy.
Florida Governor Crist - who saw the light, and realized it makes sense to stand behind someone who had an actual chance of winning.
Former Rep. Chairman Mel Martinez - for thwarting my efforts of pandering to the large Cuban-American community, of which I have no concern for except their votes.
Jon Voight - for your support, when others saw prudent to keep their distance. Thanks Jon. I saw Midnight Cowboy once.
My private sector associates - (Giuliani Partners, Bracewell Giuliani...ad nauseus) I thank you for buying into and selling my schtick, and acting as willful accomplices.
My controversial clients - for believing that vast amounts of money and a self-described high-powered personality will sometimes help you achieve your goals. Thank you.
Last, and certainly not least, all of my supporters - for insisting that my controversial record of cleaning up NYC is accurate, and supercedes any allegations of bad judgement and conflicts of interests. You try your best to spin the image that I am not a shameless, vindictive, petty dictator, when in fact, I am.
Without your support, this failure of a presidential campaign, and my private sector smoke and mirrors act would not have been possible. To you, I owe my greatest gratitude.
Please Dear G-D don't make him John Macain's
Attorney general as a giveback.
Ah Shucks! The pay is too low and his kids still
don't like him.
Yah! that's McCain,I know.
He's an a-hole. What's there to analyze?
HE'S CONCEDING AT THIS VERY MOMENT!
HURRAY!!!!
Never had a chance.
Yuck! And phew!
Yuck! And phew!