Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Hires Former GOP Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle to Advise Presidential Exploratory Committee

Readers: Please Vote in Flapâ€™s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

Washington Post: Giuliani Hires Ex-Congressman As Adviser

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has hired prominent Iowa Republican Jim Nussle to advise him on his possible presidential run.

Nussle, a former congressman and 2006 candidate for governor, will play “an important leadership on behalf of the exploratory committee both in Iowa and nationally,” Giuliani said in a statement.

Giuliani said Nussle brings valuable skills and a strong political track record in the state where precinct caucuses traditionally launch the presidential nominating season.

Nussle lost the governor’s race by roughly 100,000 votes to Democrat Chet Culver. The eight-term congressman announced last week that he was forming a political consulting business.

As Flap said yesterday, the Giuliani campaign is taking shape.

Iowa will be in play.

Let’s look at the 2008 primary election calendar – as it stands today (some states may be in the process of changing their primary election dates)

January 21, 2008 – Iowa

January 28, 2008 – New Hampshire

February 2, 2008 – South Carolina

February 5, 2008 – Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia (which will nominate a candidate at a state nominating convention)

February 5, 2008 (unofficial date) – Florida, Michigan

February 12, 2008 – Tennessee

February 9 or February 16, 2008 (date to be determined) – Louisiana

February 19, 2008 – Minnesota, Wisconsin

February 26, 2008 – New Jersey

March 4, 2008 – Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Texas, Vermont

Will any of the Big 3, Giuliani, McCain or Romney be able to strike an EARLY knock out blow?

Doubtful – minus a MAJOR gaffe…..

Stay tuned…….