Rudy Giuliani Watch: Michael Barone – Giuliani is a Front-Runner

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani gestures while speaking during the Riga Conference, on the sidelines of a NATO summit, at Blackheads House in Riga, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2006.

Michael Barone (via Hugh Hewitt): Polls for the Republican Nomination

Pollster.com has an interesting summary of the poll standings for the Republican nomination in 2008. It makes the point, largely overlooked by political writers of all stripes, that Rudy Giuliani has been leading John McCain in the large majority of polls, albeit usually by narrow margins. Political writers seem to be assuming that Giuliani can’t win the Republican nomination because of his liberal stands on cultural issues. I have disagreed for some time. Yes, Giuliani’s stands on these issues are a liability in Republican primaries. But they could be trumped by the very strong positive feelings people have had about his performance on and after September 11.

That’s what talk show host and law professor Hugh Hewitt found when he polled an audience of Republican women in Temecula, Calif., back in 2005. Hewitt asked one of the women why she could support Giuliani when he disagreed with her on cultural issues.

“All that won’t matter if we’re attacked,” she said. “Rudy will keep us safe.”

The polling evidence suggests she’s not alone. McCain is often described as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. I think it’s more accurate to call him a front-runner and to acknowledge that Giuliani is a front-runner too.

Absolutely.

This is a two man race between Giluiani and McCain. Clearly, Giuliani has the better favorability ratings and has been polling better than McCain against Hillary Clinton, the apparent Democrat nominee.

The GOP Presidential primary season may be long and protracted depending upon the June California Primary – unless it is moved to March. If Giuliani avoids an early GAFFE California and the Republican nomination are his.

UPDATE: Byron York at National Review has a summary of the latest KCCI Poll:

John McCain 27%
Rudy Giuliani 26%
Mitt Romney 9%
Newt Gingrich 7%
Condi Rice 4%
George Pataki 1%
Jeb Bush 1%
George Allen 1%
Sam Brownback 1%

Stay tuned……

Cross-Posted to the Giuliani Blog

Linked to Stop the ACLU

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