Rudy Giuliani Watch: Florida Return for Giuliani This Week

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Possible presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani stumps for Charlie Crist in a Nov. 5 stop in Miami. Giuliani will be in Sarasota this week for a series of appearances.

Herald Tribune: Giuliani returning to Sarasota this week

Visit comes as former New York mayor considers presidential run

The last time Rudolph Giuliani visited Sarasota, he stood in Five Points Park alongside congressional candidate Vern Buchanan and absorbed “Ru-dy” chants and screams of “Rudy for president.”

The former New York City mayor has since shifted the focus onto his own political future, as he considers running for president. He returns to the area this week to deliver three speeches about leadership in difficult times.

Giuliani’s talks are part of Ringling School Library Association’s 2007 Town Hall lecture series.

Giuliani’s speeches will likely touch on his role in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, his business ventures and possibly his battle with prostate cancer that took him out of running for New York’s U.S. Senate seat in 2000.

Florida will be an early campaign state when Mayor Giuliani makes his official announcement.

The latest Florida poll has:

Giuliani 30%

Gingrich 16%

McCain 15%

Romney 2%

Hagel 2%

Undecided 32%

And it is rumored that Florida will move their GOP primary election from March to Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008 – like
California.

Florida lawmakers will consider a plan during this legislative session to move the Florida primary from the first week of March to within seven days of New Hampshire’s primary, a move that could change the political dynamic of the 2008 election.

“It’s a big deal for Florida,” said Mike Murphy, a GOP political consultant who has worked for several Republican presidential candidates, including President George W. Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander.

“If Florida moves its primary close to New Hampshire’s, it will make Florida a major player,” Murphy said.

But Florida is not the only state thinking about changing its primary date. New Jersey, Michigan, North Carolina, Missouri and California are among the states looking at a Feb. 5, 2008, primary.

And the cost of competing so early in not just one but two large states – Florida and California – could change the primaries in a huge way.

Florida is an important state for ANY GOP nominee – you will see Hizzoner there campaigning.

Stay tuned…….