President 2012: Rudy Giuliani Sets Late Summer Decision – Waiting for Sarah Palin?

After spending the day in New Hampshire, Rudy Giuliani says he has settled on a timeframe for making up his mind about entering the 2012 race.

Late summer “seems like a natural period of time,” the former New York City mayor said in an interview with POLITICO from New Hampshire. “I think during the summer people don’t pay as much attention.”

“I have the advantage of very high name-recognition,” he added, explaining his decision to wait.

Waiting until Labor Day would also Giuliani time to see how the field shakes out, including the effect from the heavily-watched Ames Straw Poll in Iowa, generally seen as the first major test of organizational strength.

Again, there has been NO Bat Signal from Gotham as of yet for former Rudy supporters to get ready. But, I am positive that Rudy will throw his hat in the ring if Sarah Palin runs.

Sarah Palin will throw the race upside down and with Mitt Romney wounded over “RomneyCare,” who can the GOP Establishment support?

Giuliani has a track record of decades of accomplishment and excellent name identification. He can beat Romney and Palin in East and West Coast GOP primary elections. He can win Florida.

However, he will struggle in Iowa and South Carolina, but let Palin and Bachmann duel it out there. Romney won’t do well there either.

So, what is a convenient starting point for Rudy? New Hampshire, of course. If Rudy can run second to Romney, but close – he has a shot.

In the general election, Giuliani would be formidable against President Obama in the key battleground states of Ohio, Florida, Nevada and New Hampshire.