Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Tests Delaware Presidential Primary Waters

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Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani received the 2007 Pete du Pont Individual Freedom Award on Friday night at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington

DelawareOnline: Giuliani tests Del. primary waters

Former New York mayor evaluates a run for GOP presidential nomination

When you’re exploring a run for president, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says, you come to Delaware.

Never mind that Republicans, including state Senate Minority Leader Charles Copeland, say the national GOP has written off the First State because much of upper Delaware is in the Philadelphia media market. Never mind that the state’s political demographics are turning bluer by the month.

You come here because Delaware’s primary is right on the heels of the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary and a win here can either help build your momentum or put you back on track, as it did for President Bush in 2000.

Giuliani, who has been billed as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, was at the Hotel du Pont to receive the 2007 Pete du Pont Individual Freedom Award, given for his support of individual rights on the national and world stage.

Flap knows this MAY be a LONG and PROTRACTED GOP Presidential nomination season – at least longer than Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

So, Giuliani is attempting to build momentum (going into Southern primaries) by capturing Northeastern GOP wins immediately after New Hampshire where he is well known and popular.

DUH…….

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, smiles as he is given the Pete DuPont Individual Freedom Award by Pete DuPont, right, Friday, Jan. 12, 2007 in Wilmington, Del.

AP: Giuliani. in Delaware Speech, Hedges

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani remained noncommittal Friday on a possible bid for the GOP presidential nomination but sounded campaign-like themes in a speech to Delaware Republicans.

“I think the biggest question you have to ask is, ‘Can you really lead the country?'” he said. “If I believe that I can do it, then I will, and if I don’t, then I’ll support somebody else.”

Giuliani said the key trait a leader needs is optimism.

“People follow hopes and they follow dreams and they follow the solution to problems,” he said in accepting the Pete du Pont Individual Freedom Award, named for Delaware’s former Republican governor. “I saw that happen in New York City … I think we have to have a sense of optimism about ourselves, about who we are and where we’re going.”

Calling the war in Iraq a serious challenge, Giuliani said what the Bush administration is trying to achieve is of “profound importance” to the United States.

“If we leave Iraq in failure, then the world is going to be much more dangerous for us,” he said.

On other issues, Giuliani said that moving the country toward energy independence will be one of the greatest challenges for the next president. He also called for school vouchers and said the country needs to “revolutionize” its public education system in order to compete in the global economy.

Mayor Giuliani is NOT hedging ANYTHING.

Note well presidential campaign themes: NO Iraq War failure, Energy Independence, Revolutionize Public Education.

The 2008 Presidential game is AFOOT.

Stay tuned…..