Giuliani Notes: Florida – Rudy Leads McCain 29-23 and Hillary 47-44

Quinnipiac: Giuliani, McCain, Clinton In Florida Horse Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Results Close To Clinton’s Razor-Thin Lead In Ohio

In an early look at the 2008 presidential race in Florida, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has a razor-thin 47 – 44 percent lead over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, while Sen. Clinton edges Arizona Sen. John McCain 47 – 43 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Giuliani gets 29 percent of Florida Republican primary voters, with 23 percent for McCain, 14 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and 6 percent for Romney.

“Rudolph Giuliani runs very well in Florida, which is considered to be a socially conservative state, despite his support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Whether that is because they don’t know about his stand on those issues or don’t care will be the key question as the campaign unfolds.”

By a 60 – 20 percent margin, Florida voters have a favorable opinion of Giuliani.

Favorability ratings for other contenders are:

* 50 – 21 percent for McCain;
* 51 – 39 percent for Clinton;
* 37 – 18 percent for Obama, with 44 percent who haven’t heard enough to form an opinion;
* 44 – 27 percent for Edwards, with 27 percent who haven’t heard enough;
* 46 – 47 percent for Gore;
* 26 – 48 percent for Gingrich;
* 75 percent haven’t heard enough about Romney.

While Giuliani gets a 40 – 36 percent favorability among Democrats and a 59 – 20 percent positive among independent voters, Clinton gets a big negative 15 – 77 percent among Republicans and a 43 – 43 percent split among independent voters.

And this is why Hillary must attack Rudy and erode his support from the independent voters.

Will she be able to do this without losing/alienating her base?

Doubtful……..

Watch for the media attacks against Giuliani – by surrogates.
However, is Hillary worried about political fall-out in her primary contest against Obama and Edwards?

Perhaps.

Stay tuned……..

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