Former New York City Mayor and Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani addressing abortion on May 9, 2007 in Huntsville, Alabama.

AP: Giuliani reaffirms abortion rights

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Friday urged conservatives to look past his support for abortion rights, arguing that his divergence on the issue should not disqualify him from being the party’s GOP nominee.

The former New York City mayor has struggled in the last week to explain his personal opposition to terminating pregnancies with his long record of favoring a woman’s right to choose. He has defended his positions — and some say contradictory comments — on late-term abortion, public funding for abortions and the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

“Everybody’s got to make a choice,” Giuliani told about 500 students, faculty and staff crammed into an auditorium at Houston Baptist University. “How important are the differences and how important are the other issues we may agree on.”

Giuliani emphasized his conservative credentials on tax cuts, crime and the war in Iraq before clarifying his support for abortion, a position he acknowledged was unlikely to be shared by those listening.

So, what did Rudy say about abortion and abortion rights?

The Quotes:

Describing his belief that abortion was “morally wrong,” Giuliani said he has opposed it all his life. But he said he believes the decision should ultimately be left to individuals and that their decisions should be respected.

“In a country like ours … I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice. I would grant women the right to make that choice,” he said.

“I have profound respect for your views,” he said. “I have profound respect for your education, and I have profound respect for your religion.” But, he said, it is uniquely American to disagree on some political issues while agreeing on many others.

“We understand how to respect each other’s differences,” he said.

Let’s look at the polls and the abortion question. Here are some polls that Flap linked yesterday.

Note well that 69% of votes said they could vote for a candidate with different views on abortion and ONLY 22% said they could not. Also, that a majority of voters believe abortion always should be legal or usually legal.

Another poll:

Note a majority of those polled believe the choice on abortion is best left between a woamn and her doctor. And, the oppostion of those polled to partial birth abortion.

ABC News has Polls Show Legal Abortion Isn’t Make-or-Break Issue for Most Republicans and Republican-Leaning Independents.

But our analysis pointed out that there’s much less polarization on abortion than we’ve seen in the past — a move toward moderation, with fewer people saying it should be either legal, or illegal, in all cases. That, too, may fit Giuliani’s strategy.

A final element is how Giuliani casts his position. Views on abortion are highly conditional, not easily captured in an overall support/oppose question. There are cases (e.g. rape) in which support for legal abortion is enormous. There are others (e.g. solely to end an unwanted pregnancy) in which most oppose the procedure. The health of the mother is an issue. So is the perceived right for a woman to act privately, with her doctor’s consultation; yet so too are moral objections about terminating a pregnancy.

All these make abortion less a black-and-white issue and more a question of competing sentiments for many Americans. On this tightrope, Rudy Giuliani does not stand alone.

Read it all and ABC’s: Views on Abortion Grow Less Polarized

Next, let’s look at issues that most concern the American voter:

Flap doesn’t see abortion mentioned.

So, you ask what is the point?

The mayor has taken a beating from conservative pundits this past week on abortion. But…….

1. His pro-choice views are mainstream and supported by a majority of American voters.

2. Abortion although an important issue is not of paramount importance by Americans in choosing who will be their next President.

3. Abortion is not a disqualifying issue by 2/3 of the voters.

Can we move on……like the Mayor told Laura Ingraham.

And like the Wall Street Journal Today exhorts its readers here (subscription required).

As for the politics of 2008, the last thing the GOP needs is another intramural abortion brawl. As a resurgent Democratic Party advances all manner of misguided proposals for the economy, taxes, national security, health care, energy and the environment, voters need Republicans to revive their own reform agenda. An abortion fight will make the party seem irrelevant to the main voter concerns, or captive to its litmus test interests.

Mr. Giuliani has his strengths and weaknesses, but he shouldn’t be disqualified for the nomination because of his views on a single issue that a President can’t do much to change other than through the courts. The only victor in a drawn-out GOP abortion donnybrook will be the Democrat who winds up in the White House.

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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Abortion Rights and February 5 States Are Strategery for Rudy

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Can Rudy Overcome Pro-Choice Abortion Stand?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: The May 3rd GOP Presidential Debate – Abortion and Iraq?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy the Front-Runner

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Obama, Edwards Prove Giuliani Right

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy on Offense and Democrats Don’t Like It

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “America Will Be Safer with a Republican President” The Democrat Response

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “America Will Be Safer with a Republican President”

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Conservative Christians Favor Giuliani

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Quinnipiac Connecticut Poll:

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads all Democratic contenders in the 2008 presidential race in Connecticut, squeaking by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 44 – 42 percent; inching past former Vice President Al Gore 45 – 42 percent, and beating New York Sen. Hillary Clinton 48 – 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Sen. Clinton tops Arizona Sen. John McCain 47 – 40 percent.

This compares to a 46 – 44 percent Clinton lead over Giuliani in a February 19 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University.

The GOP NUTS:

Rudy – 36%

McCain – 15%

Romney – 9%

Thompson – 7%

Gingrich – 5%

Head to Head NUTS:

Giuliani 48%, Clinton 42%

Giuliani 44%, Obama 42%

Giuliani 45%, Gore 42%

McCain 40%, Clinton 47%

McCain 38%, Obama 46%

McCain 41%, Gore 45%

Clinton tops former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson 49 – 33 percent

Favorablity vs Unfavorability:

61 – 25 percent for Giuliani

48 – 28 percent for McCain

51 – 15 percent for Obama

46 – 28 percent for Edwards

54 – 37 percent for Gore

49-42 percent for Clinton

For Thompson, 63 percent haven’t heard enough to form an opinion.

For Romney, 60 percent haven’t heard enough to form an opinion. President Bush’s Approval

In terms of Connecticut electability is there any doubt that Rudy is the front-runner?

No other GOP candidates places Connecticut in play. The same is true throughout the Northeast.

The fact that Rudy CAN beat Hillary should be the PRIME concern for GOP primary voters.

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Slate has the audio with a newly created animation of Mayor Giuliani’s call in smack-down of David Guthartz, a ferret-rights activist who was upset over city regulations making it illegal to keep ferrets as pets.

Here is the You Tube Version:

Does this help or hurt the Mayor?

Obvious answer – HELPS

Now let’s turn to Laura Ingraham v. Mayor Giuliani – the throw down of the Mayor on abortion yesterday.

Laura on her show sometime last week was bagging on the Mayor that he never comes on her show and that he did when he was on MSNBC all of the time. Se said her staff had been attempting to book him since January with no success.

Apparently, the Giuliani campaign heard Laura’s whine and booked the Mayor an appearance.

The audio is here.

So, you ask what does Laura Ingraham have to do with Ferrets or Weasels?

Exactly, you say.

Laura Ingraham has made it clear on her show that if you are not pro-life like she is that this is not the radio show for you.

Obviously

In fact her own listeners throw Laura down for her attempted smack down of Rudy.  Look at her own poll (not scientific, of course, but Ingraham’s):

Flap looks forward to the same treatment of Romney and McCain when they appear on the Ingraham show.

Don’t hold your breath…….

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Survey USA: Giuliani Is Still Lead Wagon In CA GOP Gold Rush

Giuliani Is Still Lead Wagon In CA GOP Gold Rush, but with Fred Thompson “In,” Rudy Lead Trimmed to 13 Pts: 9 Months to the newly accelerated and suddenly critical California Republican Primary, the contest tightens, according to the first poll of likely California Republican Primary voters following last week’s California debate, conducted by SurveyUSA exclusively for its media clients in the West.

Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani is at 34% today, 05/07/07, 13 points ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain, who finishes in 2nd place at 21%. But: compared to a SurveyUSA poll of likely CA GOP Primary voters one month ago — the 04/02/07 release did not name Actor Fred Thompson — Giuliani is today down 9 points, from 43% then to 34% now. McCain is down 3 points, from 24% then to 21% now. Former MA Governor Mitt Romney, who finishes 3rd today at 12%, is up 5 points, from 7% a month ago. Actor Fred Thompson is effectively tied with Romney for 3rd place today, at 11% today.

Among California’s Republican Conservatives, 30% vote Giuliani, 16% vote McCain, 16% vote Romney, 13% vote Thompson and 13% vote for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who is not a declared candidate.

Among CA Republican Moderates, Giuliani runs 9 points stronger than he does among Conservatives, at 39%; McCain runs 13 points stronger, at 29%; Romney runs 8 points weaker, at 8%, Thompson runs 6 points weaker, at 7%; and Gingrich runs 7 points weaker, at 6%.

Giuliani runs strongest among those in favor of stem-cell research, among pro-choice Republicans, among Hispanic Republicans, and among those who support same-sex marriage.

The GOP NUTS:

Rudy – 34%

McCain – 21%

Romney – 12%

Thompson – 11%

Gingrich 9%

The poll is here.

More break-out demographics:

Rudy continues to lead California in double digits. Although his lead has decreased 9 points, Hizzoner maintains a commanding presence in the Golden State. With New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California all moving their GOP primaries to February 5, the Mayor could well have the nomination wrapped up by the February 12 regional primaries.

The California question is: Will McCain and Romney “give up contending” California to concentrate on Iowa and New Hampshire?

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Rasmussen Reports: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

The race for the Republican Presidential nomination is getting closer. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani remains on top, but his lead has fallen to single digits.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows Giuliani at 25%, eight points more than Arizona Senator John McCain’s 17%. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has not entered the race, but is just a single point behind McCain. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is at 12%, the only other candidate in double digits. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains in fifth place with 8% support.

Giuliani leads Thompson by four points among men and leads McCain by ten points among women.

It is interesting to note that 38% of Republican Primary Voters either express no preference or are supporting a candidate not in the running at this time (Gingrich or Thompson). That is just one indicator of how wide open the race for the GOP nomination remains.

The Mayor continues to command a substantial lead over the field and an 8 point lead is an 8 point lead in a multi-candidate race.

Flap disagrees with Rasmussen’s conclusion that the race is wide open. In fact, the race is closed except for the Big 3, Rudy, McCain and Romney. Fred Thompson has not announced and has done NO fundraising. How can anyone be a serious candidate for the presidency this late in the game, having raised NO campaign money.

When either Thompson enters the race and is scrutinized or states he is out, Rudy’s poll numbers should again reflect a commanding double digit lead.

And, besides the USA Today/Gallup poll already reflects a continued double digit lead.

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USA TODAY/Gallup Poll

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,010 National Adults, aged 18+, conducted May 4-6, 2007.

The GOP NUTS:

Without Newt Gingrich in the candidate mix:

Head to Head: Rudy vs. McCain

The Mayor continues a double digit lead in this national poll, taken after the GOP debate last week.

Again, neither Romney nor Thompson poll well enough to displace McCain who is safely in second place.

As Flap wrote earlier today, the Giuliani Campaign feels very good about their polling position at this time.

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MSNBC, POLITICO BIASED AGAINST RUDY IN GOP DEBATE

Thursday’s Republican debate, hosted by MSNBC and Politico.com was biased against Republican front runner Rudy Giuliani. A count of the words each candidate spoke indicates that Romney was given 50% more air time and McCain 25% more that Giuliani was permitted.

Romney spoke 2300 words to McCain’s 2030 to Giuliani 1603. When the airtime is os heavily skewed in favor of the 2nd and 3rd place candidates against the front runner, one is entitled to ask why. With more than 1/3 of the Republican backing Giuliani and interested in what he has to say what journalistic justification is there for giving him less face time than his two leading rivals.

The Democratic Party has been concentrating its fire on Rudy for months now and this effort by two Democratic news organs to short change Giuliani is part of the process of trying to defeat the only Republican who can win in November.

Flap certainly did not count the words but Hotline counted the number of questions and Romney had the edge:

With ten political candidates it is hard to maintain control and fairness in any debate format.  However, Chris Matthews, a former Democrat operative (presidential speech writer for President Jimmy Carter and staff aide of Democrat Speaker Tip O’Neill) did a horrible job in moderating the forum.

Was MSNBC and Politico blatantly biased?

Probably not – but that was the result and Rudy Giuliani was punished.

The candidates, including the Mayor should insist that their next debates have a more fair method of distributing questions and be guaranteed equal time to respond.  Plus, aren’t there any retired GOP politicos who can moderate?

How about former Californa Governor Pete Wilson, Senator Alan Simpson or Senator Phil Gramm?

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Poll: Giuliani, McCain lead the pack

A year and a half before the 2008 presidential election, Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain are leading the Republican pack, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll out Monday.

Asked whom they would most likely support for the Republican nomination, 25 percent of people who identified themselves as Republicans or leaning Republican cited the former mayor of New York and 23 percent cited the senator from Arizona.

The poll is here.

The GOP NUTS:

The race is tightening but in delegate-rich early primary states the Mayor has double digit leads.

In this poll, when Fred Thompson is excluded the Mayor leaps to a 5 point lead.  When Newt Gingrich is excluded, then the Mayor’s lead shrinks to one point over McCain and Fred Thompson leaps to 15 points.

So, will Thompson get in and will Romney be able to stay in?

Here are the national GOP Real Clear Politics averages:

Stay tuned…….

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Former New York Mayor and Presidential candidate and Mrs. Rudy Giuliani in Simi Valley, California, May 3, 2007. Standing next to the Mayor is Anaheim, California Mayor Curt Pringle.

The Giuliani campaign has sponsored another blogger conference call this morning/afternoon with Giuliani Campaign Manager Michael DuHaime and Communications Director Katie Levinson.

Patrick Ruffini hosted the call.

Matt David (left) and Katie Levinson are top communications staffers on the governor’s campaign. Eric Luse photo courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle

Katie Levinson:

I would like to give you an update on Rudy schedule wise and what we have been talking about with a message perspective.

After the debate on Thursday night, Rudy headed to Cedar, Rapids, Iowa, where he did a Townhall and talked about the repeal of the “Death Tax.”

He, then, headed to The Citadel where he delivered the commencement address.

Tonight, he will be speaking at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

Later this week, he will head to Alabama, then back to New York and then to Florida.

********

The campaign has been focusing on Rudy’s record in New York City. He had a very strong track record of success, bringing crime down, turning the economy around and really ceaning the city up – making it a liveable city again. We are trying to bring this message across the country. And let people know what kind of job Rudy did as Mayor.

This is something we will certainly talk about prior to the next debate in South Carolina and in early June in New Hampshire.

********

Michael Duhaime in the “Spin Room” at the Reagan Presidential Library Debate, May 3, 2007.

Michael DuHaime:

Just on polling and where we are right now….the race has settled into a place where we expected it all along. There were three national polls last seek and our average lead was 10 points and we feel very good where things have settled in and not surprising where they are right now. In a field as large as it is, I feel it is a good place for us to be.

Also, in the early primary states, the first three are close and are likely to be close down to the wire and will go back and forth on those. If you average them all, they are all close.

Obviously with Florida’s move , it is a significant thing. With the move before February 5th, the most recent polling shows double digit leads for the Mayor and in some cases more than 20 point leads – which is certainly encouraging for us.

And with the moves of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California to February 5th certainly alters the dynamic in all those states where the Mayor has double digit leads – with California being in the low teens and New York, New Jersey being more considerable than that. With other states, February 5th will be an important day for everybody.

Then, you have a regional primary on February 12th perhaps Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Obviously, the front-loading of all of this means a tremendous amounts of resources that you have to raise.

But, we feel very good about the Mayor’s record, polling we see and our overall electoral strength.

Bloggers Questions:

Flap will update this post throughout the day with the Q/A with the bloggers.

Update:

1. Question from Jennifer Rubin (free-lance writer NRO and the American Thinker):

Mike, you talked about moving up of the primaries.  Does anything about this concern you?  And have you adjusted either your travel plans or your organization or your spending patterns to reflect all of the states that are now moving up?

Mike DuHaime:

I think what it does and this is probably not unique to our campaign is puts a heavier burden on the amount of money that has to be raised.  And it used to be that any viable candidate would be able to raise enough money to compete in every state.  But, now every candidate has to make resource allocation decisions and look at the places where they may be able to perform best – where one can get delegates.

So, it changes the need to raise money which laters the schedule.  In order to do a significant amount of fundraisers it takes time away from some other places where you may do some more “retail” campaigning.

It affects our campaign and will affect every campaign as to the schedule.
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SurveyUSA Election Poll

Giuliani and McCain Have Twice Support of Nearest Rival in Washington State: In a Republican Primary for President of the United States in Washington State today, May 3, 2007, Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain are effectively tied, with others far back, according to a SurveyUSA poll of likely Republican Primary voters conducted exclusively for KING-TV Seattle. Giuliani gets 32% today, McCain 28%.

Undeclared candidate Fred Thompson, from the TV show Law and Order, gets approximately half as much support, at 17%. George Romney gets half again as much support as Thompson, at 9%.

The difference between Giuliani supporters and McCain supporters is clearly drawn: Giuliani leads among Republicans who say the USA is winning the War on Terror. McCain leads among those who say the Terrorists are winning the War on Terror. McCain leads among those who say the USA needs a military draft.

Giuliani leads among those who say the USA does not need a military draft. Giuliani leads among the small number of Republicans who support same-sex marriage; McCain and Giuliani tie among the large number of Repbulican primary voters who oppose same-sex marriage.

McCain leads among those who think global warming is real. Giuliani leads among those who think global warming is made-up. McCain leads, although barely, among pro-life Republicans. Giuliani leads among pro-choice Republicans.

The GOP Nuts:

The date of the Washington State GOP Primary is undecided today (as it is in a number of states).

The question will be whether the primary will even count. If the primary is outside the February 5th envelope, the race may be decided before Washingtonians go to the polls.

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