TPMDC Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani: We Need A President Who Can Say 'Bomb' Iran
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
The war drums are beating louder and louder for Iran. And on CNN Thursday night, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani did his part, casually saying President Obama should threaten to "bomb" Iran to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Iran, Nuclear Energy, Rudy Giuliani, nuclear
Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani Will Only Get In The 2012 Race If The GOP Field Looks "Really Desperate"
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
Ex-America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani doesn't really have a home in the modern Republican presidential nomination system, he told a crowd in Washington today. And, he said, neither does anyone else not willing to hew to the farthest edge of social conservatism.
Giuliani stepped up to the podium at the National Press Club Tuesday to discuss the upcoming tenth anniversary of 9/11. But because he has actively kept talk of another run for President going for months now, he got some questions about it when his 9/11-focused lecture was over.
Once again, Giuliani said he was still considering a bid, but said that he's put off a decision until after the 10th anniversary of the attacks that propelled him from famous New York City mayor to international icon. However, Giuliani told the crowd, "I would have a hard time getting nominated," and said that he'd jump in only if the GOP field was looking "really desperate."
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Conservative, Rudy Giuliani
Polls
CNN Poll: The Only GOPer Who Beats Obama Is....Probably Not Running
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
New data from the latest national CNN poll out on Thursday shows that the distance between President Obama and his possible GOP opponents is tightening among the declared (Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney) and nearly declared (Tex. Gov. Rick Perry) GOP frontrunners. But it also showed that there was one Republican candidate in the poll who outpaced Obama in a matchup, 51 - 45. That candidate was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Just one problem...he's probably not running.
Other candidates did have a decent showing against Obama: the President was ahead of Romney only by a point, 48 - 47, and Perry was able to pull within five points, at 51 - 46, despite not even announcing or having a formal campaign yet. Even Bachmann, beginning to sag in the polls due to the entrance of Perry, was able to get close to the President at 51 - 45.
Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, Polls, Rudy Giuliani
Gay Marriage
Rudy Giuliani Breaks His Gay Wedding Vows
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
After promising a close friend he would officiate his same-sex wedding, Rudy Giuliani is reportedly dodging efforts to hold him to his word in the wake of New York's landmark gay marriage law.
"I asked if he would marry us," Howard Koeppel, who put Giuliani up in his home during a tough divorce with then-wife Donna Hanover, told the New York Post. "He said, 'Howard, I don't ever do anything that's not legal. If it becomes legal in New York, you'll be one of the first ones I would marry.'"
Well, it's legal now. And Koeppel is eager to have the state recognize his marriage to his longtime partner. But he says Giuliani is no longer returning his calls and his spokesman isn't responding to the Post's requests for comment.
Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Rudy Giuliani
2012 Presidential Primaries
Call In The Cavalry!: Meet The GOP Dream Ballot
Republican voters have sampled their party's presidential choices, but are still left wanting.
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week found that less than half of GOP primary voters are "satisfied" with the Republican slate. And in a recent Pew study, when asked for their reaction to the current GOP field, Americans' top three responses to the were "unimpressed," "disappointed," and "weak."
It's no surprise then that some voters are hoping for a white knight to leap into the fold and shake things up. Several polls bear this out, as they've shown non-candidates like Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani running well or even topping the entire field.
So who are these dream candidates? And will any of them answer the call?
Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Chris Christie, Fred Thompson, Jeb Bush, Pres '12, Rick Perry, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin
2012
Rudy Giuliani Rips Mitt Romney On Healthcare: 'A Mandate Is A Mandate'
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
Is Rudy Giuliani running for something?
On a visit to the crucial primary state of New Hampshire, the former New York mayor took dead aim at Mitt Romney for his Massachusetts health care law, calling on him to apologize to America for inspiring President Obama's own reforms.
"[Romney] can't talk his way out of this," Giuliani told the New Hampshire Union Leader. "A mandate is a mandate is a mandate is a mandate is mandate. Let's get real."
Topics: 2012, 2012 elections, 2014 elections, Donald Trump, Haley Barbour, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Poll: With Huckabee, Trump Out Of The Picture, Giuliani Leads GOP Primary Free-For-All
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
Despite making virtually no noise about a presidential campaign, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is the new frontrunner in the Republican primary, according to a CNN poll released today. But Giuliani's sudden emergence is less a sign of his strength than it is reminder of the nebulous nature of the GOP field, one which was thrown into flux recently with the news that Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump would not pursue White House bids.
In early polls of the race, support has generally ebbed and flowed among a handful of well-known candidates -- including Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich -- with little ground separating those in the top-tier. Huckabee and Trump each posted leads in a few national surveys, and with their departure, their supporters have sifted down to the remaining high-profile names.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Donald Trump, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Polls, Pres '12, Rudy Giuliani
Pres '12
Rudy: Romney Should Say Massachusetts Health Care Reform 'A Mistake'
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
Add Rudy Giuliani to the list of Republicans who are slamming Mitt Romney for his signature achievement -- universal healthcare in Massachusetts -- and its striking resemblance to President Obama's healthcare reform, with both of them based on an individual mandate to purchase private health insurance, plus subsidies for people with lower incomes.
"It's clear the Massachusetts health care plan was a mistake and Mitt should basically say that and explain how he would act differently now," Giuliani told the New Hampshire Union Leader's John DiStaso.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Health Care, Mitt Romney, Pres '12, Rudy Giuliani
New York Times
Mystery Solved? NYT Says Docs Show It Was Roger Ailes Who Judith Regan Accused of Telling Her to Lie
Fox News president Roger Ailes
Just who did former HarperCollins publisher Judith Regan accuse of telling her to lie about her relationship with former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik?
As readers may recall, in the midst her lawsuit with her former employer News Corporation, Regan reportedly claimed via her legal team that a senior News Corp executive had asked her to lie about her relationship with then NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Kerik was at the time being considered as the next homeland security chief.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Fox News, Judy Reagan , New York Times, News Corporation, Roger Ailes, Rudy Giuliani
2012 Presidential Primaries
It's Rudy Time ... Maybe: Giuliani Hypes A Second Run At The White House
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
The Rudy Giuliani who's tip-toeing toward a run at the White House this month is very different from the one who dashed headlong into the fray in 2008. For one thing, Rudy is four years farther away from his signature achievement -- leading the city of New York through 9/11 -- than he was in '08 (which was already pretty far). For another, he's nobody's frontrunner. In 2008, he was the man to beat, where today he's lodged firmly in the Where Are They Now? file.
Yet Giuliani spent the last week or so trying to recapture the magic of four years ago. Or at least some of it. In a series of interviews, Giuliani's hinted that he might run again, and laid out a strategy that would carve a path for the New York moderate that veers away from the hullabaloo of conservative politics and the likes of Sarah Palin.
Will it work? If the past is any evidence, no. Giuliani is not much of a major player anymore, and the tea-infused GOP isn't much interested in hearing from blue state Republicans who know how to work across the aisle. Plus, Giuliani would face a field of powerful candidates who have been running for years already. Still, he seems convinced he could make a go of it, if he decides to throw his hat in the ring.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Rudy Giuliani
2012 Presidential Primaries
Rudy Giuliani On 2012: I'm More Likely To Run If Sarah Palin Does
Rudy Guiliani
Rudy Giuliani will offer more hints at his potential presidential future in an interview scheduled to air on CNN Monday night. Among the new revelations, according to tweets posted Friday by the Larry King-replacing Piers Morgan, is the role Sarah Palin's 2012 decision would make in Giuliani's own choice on whether or not to join the fray.
"Rudy Giuliani says he's 'more likely' to run for Presidency if Sarah Palin does," Morgan tweeted Friday afternoon. ""The more Republicans in which I can show a contrast, probably the better chance, the better chance that I have.'"
Other hints at Giuliani's thinking from Morgan's Twitter feed today include a suggestion that Giuliani thinks there's room for a self-professed moderate to make a run at the presidential nomination of the increasingly tea party-influenced GOP.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, Rudy Giuliani
2012 elections
He's B-a-a-ck: Giuliani Says He's Considering 2012 Run (VIDEO)
Former mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani
Get ready for a lot of verbs, nouns and talk of 9/11: Rudy Giuliani says he's seriously considering another run at the White House. In an interview with CNBC's Larry Kudlow last night, Giuliani said he's "absolutely" open to a second bite at the presidential campaign apple, despite the spectacular failure of his highly-touted 2008 run.
"I will take a look at 2012. It's really a question of can I play a useful role? Would I have a chance at getting the nomination?" Giuliani told Kudlow. "Those are the things that I'll have to evaluate, you know, as the year goes along."
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Rudy Giuliani
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Gillibrand: Giffords Making 'An Extraordinary Amount Of Progress'
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) that her friend Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is making progress in her recovery from the shooting in Tucson, though she is not yet able to speak: "It's far too early for that. But she's making progress every day. She's using both sides of her body. She's able to breathe on her own. She's able to open her eyes and to show people she understands what she's hearing and seeing. So she's really--it's an extraordinary amount of progress for a woman who sustained such a horrific injury that she did."
Schumer: I Will Sit With Coburn At SOTU
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that he and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) will sit together at the State of the Union address: "My colleague Senator Mark Udall called for Democrats and Republicans to sit together at the State of the Union. I called up Tom after he did that, and he graciously agreed, we're going to sit together Wednesday night at the State of the Union, and we hope that many others will follow us. Now, that's symbolic, but maybe it just sets a tone and everything gets a little bit more civil."
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Chris Christie, Chuck Schumer, Gabrielle Giffords, Pres '12, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, Sunday Shows, Tim Murphy, Tom Coburn
2012 elections
Giuliani: No, I 'Haven't Found Any Political Advisers' For 2012
Former mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani
Former New York City Mayor and failed 2008 Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani pushed back on rumors that he's been rounding up political advisers for a possible 2012 run, saying this morning: "So far I haven't found any political advisers to round up. Maybe they're not listening."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 elections, Pres '12, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani: Palin's Got 'A Hell Of A Lot More Qualifications' Than Obama Did
Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and Fmr. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R)
Rudy Giuliani thinks Sarah Palin should run for President in 2012: "She's got a hell of a lot more qualifications than Barack Obama had when he ran for President."
"Let her run," he said on The View today. "If she's as bad as you think, she'll lose. If she can really make her case, she will win."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin
2012 elections
GOPers Defend Palin After Story Of Plan To Quash Her '12 Run
Sarah Palin
Yesterday, Sarah Palin lashed out after a Politico story cited anonymous "advisers to the main 2012 presidential contenders" and "other veteran Republican operatives" saying that after the midterm elections, they'll embark on a "common, if uncoordinated" mission to halt the former half-term governor's political momentum going into the 2012 presidential election.
In an e-mail to The Daily Caller today, Palin called out Politico: "I suppose I could play their immature, unprofessional, waste-of-time game, too, by claiming these reporters and politicos are homophobe, child molesting, tax evading, anti-dentite, puppy-kicking, chain smoking porn producers...really, they are... I've seen it myself...but I'll only give you the information off-the-record, on deep, deep background; attribute these 'facts' to an 'anonymous source' and I'll give you more."
Meanwhile, some 2012 president contenders and veteran Republican operatives have gone on the record rallying to Palin's support and denouncing the article and its anonymous sources.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 elections, Michael Steele, Mitt Romney, Pres '12, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty
NY-GOV
Not Even Rudy Giuliani Will Commit To Carl Paladino
Rudy Giuliani and Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino still has to convince New York's most prominent Republican that he's ready for the state's top job. On a conference call with reporters yesterday, I asked Rudy Giuliani if he planned to cast his ballot this fall for Paladino, the increasingly crazy-sounding nominee to replace the increasingly witty Gov. David Paterson (D). Guiliani said, essentially, that he's just not ready to commit to Paladino just yet.
The call came before Paladino's latest strategic moves, which include accusing his Democratic opponent of having an extramarital affair with no evidence and threatening on camera to "take out" a reporter he doesn't like.
Before anyone had seen any of that, Giuliani was not willing to say he'll personally vote for Paladino.
"You know, you can generally assume I'll vote Republican," he told me. "I've voted for Democrats but I mainly vote Republican most of the time. That'd be my inclination and my thinking, but frankly I haven't made a decision about that race yet."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Carl Paladino, David Paterson, NY-GOV, Rudy Giuliani
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Boehner: I'll Drop Tax Cut for Rich If I Have To
Appearing on Face The Nation, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) indicated that a compromise on renewal of the Bush tax cuts -- to renew only the tax cuts for those making under $250,000, and allow the tax cuts for higher-incomes to expire -- could be possible. "I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes," Boehner said. "If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I'll vote for it. But I've been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all Americans if we want to get our economy going again, and we want to get jobs in America."
Goolsbee: U.S. Can't Afford Tax Cuts for High-End Earners
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee indicated the Obama administration's strong position against renewing the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. "The president strongly believes that ... after a decade of astounding squeeze on the middle class that was followed by the worst recession in our lifetime ... you cannot afford to raise taxes on the middle class. We should make that permanent," Goolsbee said. But he also added: "What we cannot afford to do is pass 700 billion additional dollars of tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires at a time when we are just going to borrow that money."
Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', 2010 elections, Austan Goolsbee, Bush Tax Cuts, David Axelrod, Feisal Abdul Rauf, House '10, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Steny Hoyer, Sunday Shows
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Austan Goolsbee, Chief Economist on the Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.
• CBS, Face The Nation: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), former 9/11 Commission Co-Chairman and former Gov. Tom Kean (R-NJ).
• CNN, State Of The Union: FreedomWorks Chairman and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R), former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS).
• Fox News Sunday: White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).
• NBC, Meet The Press: Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Austan Goolsbee, David Axelrod, Dick Armey, Feisal Abdul Rauf, FreedomWorks, John Boehner, Keith Ellison, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Sunday Shows, Tom Kean, Trent Lott
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Holder: Pakistan Taliban 'Intimately Involved' In Times Square Plot
Appearing on Meet The Press, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Pakistani Taliban was behind the attempted Times Square bombing: "I can say that the evidence that we've now developed shows that the Pakistani Taliban has directed this plot. We know that they helped facilitate it, we know that we helped--they helped direct it, and I suspect that we are going to come up with evidence that shows they helped to finance it. They were intimately involved in this plot."
Holder: Al Qaeda Recruiting People With 'Clean Skins'
Also on Meet The Press, Attorney General Eric Holder discussed how al Qaeda has been recruiting U.S. citizens with clean records: "Yeah. I mean, you certainly hear from them that they're looking for people, as they call it, people with 'clean skins.' They're trying to get people into the country or use people who don't fit any kind of a profile or not people who you might expect to be involved in these kinds of activities. And that's why we have to redouble our efforts in terms of intelligence-gathering to make sure that we are fully cognizant of what is it they're planning to do, who are they trying to use in, in coming up with these plots? It makes our job more difficult, not one that we can't do, but certainly makes it more difficult."
Topics: 2010 elections, Chris Dodd, Eric Holder, Joe Lieberman, John Brennan, Richard Shelby, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Sunday Shows
KY-SEN
Neocons Attack Rand Paul By Tying Him To His Dad's Foreign Policy
Rudy Giuliani and Rand Paul
The Republican primary in the Kentucky Senate race is shaping up to be a proxy fight between the neoconservative wing of the Republican party and the more libertarian strands. Key neocons are backing Secretary of State Trey Grayson over conservative activist Rand Paul -- and attacking Paul by criticizing his father Ron Paul's (R-TX) stances on Iraq, 9/11 and Guantanamo Bay.
Rudy Giuliani endorsed Trey Grayson yesterday, boldly vilifying the opposition: "He [Grayson] is not part of the 'blame America first' crowd that wants to bestow the rights of U.S. citizens on terrorists and point fingers at America for somehow causing 9/11." Another big-name neoconservative endorsing Grayson is former Vice President Dick Cheney, who in his own endorsement spoke of Grayson's dedication to keeping Guantanamo open and upholding the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan.
TPMDC asked Rand Paul campaign manager David Adams for comment on efforts by Giuliani and others to tie Rand Paul to his father's foreign policy stances, and whether this might reflect an effort to stop a candidate with ties to Ron Paul. "I wouldn't speculate on what their motivations are," said Adams. "We'll put our endorsements up against anybody, and so far I think it's clear that Sarah Palin and Sen. Jim Bunning and the conservative pro-life groups that have endorsed Rand far outweigh what Secretary Grayson's been able to pull together."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: 2010 elections, Dick Cheney, KY-SEN, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10, Trey Grayson
FL-GOV
Rudy: 'Charlie Crist Broke His Word With Me'
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani formally endorsed Marco Rubio today in the Florida Senate race -- and took some clear jabs at Crist, who had reportedly backed out of endorsing Rudy in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries.
On a conference call with conservative bloggers, Giuliani said that his endorsement was about more than "whether Charlie Crist broke his word with me on several occasions; he did -- that's the reality, that's the truth -- he did break his word."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Charlie Crist, FL-GOV, Marco Rubio, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10
FL-SEN
Giuliani To Campaign With Rubio -- Revenge Against Crist?
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Marco Rubio's campaign has announced that he'll be welcoming a special guest to Florida to campaign with him: Ex-New York City Mayor and former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, who will join Rubio in Miami on Monday.
This race has some interesting history that might possibly appeal to Rudy, involving Rubio's opponent in the Republican primary for Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist. According to the Mark Halperin/John Heilemann book Game Change, Giuliani ended up banking his whole campaign on winning Crist's endorsement in the Florida primary, and the two camps had engaged in very close negotiations.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Charlie Crist, FL-SEN, Marco Rubio, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10
DSCC
DSCC Scrubs Ad With World Trade Center Photo, Posts New Version (VIDEO)
MA Senate Candidates AG Martha Coakley (D) and State Sen. Scott Brown (R)
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has taken down and then repost its new attack ad against Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special Senate election -- minus a background photo that turned out to be the World Trade Center.
The ad is now exactly the same as before, except that the Trade Center visual (which was not immediately obvious, as it was an old stock photo taken from a weird angle, and did not appear to have anything to do with 9/11) has been replaced.
Republicans were quick to pounce on the ad. Rudy Giuliani released a statement: "Martha Coakley must immediately denounce the partisan political television advertisement sponsored by her Democrat allies that inexplicably uses images of the World Trade Center to unfairly attack Scott Brown. This is among the most desperate campaign tactics I have ever seen. Martha Coakley and her Democrat allies owe an apology to the families of the nearly three thousand Americans killed on September 11th."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: DSCC, MA-SEN, Martha Coakley, Rudy Giuliani, Scott Brown
Rudy Giuliani
Report: Rudy Giuliani Not Running For Senate Against Gillibrand
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani is expected to announce today that he will not run for Senate in 2010 against appointed Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a blow for Republican recruitment efforts after Giuliani had consistently led Gillibrand in the polls.
Giuliani will also endorse former Rep. Rick Lazio for governor, after having contemplated that race earlier this year -- an interesting turn of events, considering how Lazio became the 2000 nominee for Senate against Hillary Clinton after Giuliani had dropped out of that race, too.
The polls have shown that Gillibrand remains a largely unknown quantity with the voters, and faces a potential primary challenge from outgoing New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, who came closer to victory than anybody had expected in his 2009 race for mayor. But without Rudy Giuliani, the Republicans have lost their biggest name in a state where they don't have much of a bench to speak of anymore.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10
Kirsten Gillibrand
Poll: Gillibrand Trailing Bill Thompson In Dem Primary -- Or Is She?
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
A new Quinnipiac poll says that appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is vulnerable to a primary challenge from outgoing New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, who just came surprisingly close in his unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of New York City.
The numbers for the Democratic primary: Thompson 41%, Gillibrand 28%, with a ±3.7% margin of error. On the other hand, a Siena poll that was also released today shows Gillibrand ahead of Thompson by 32%-23%.
Thompson has likely benefitted from recent publicity from his mayoral campaign, in which he was frequently on New York TV (though not as much as Mike Bloomberg, obviously). By contrast, Gillibrand hasn't been on paid TV at all -- not one ad.
One thing the two polls both agree on, though, is that each Democrat currently trails Rudy Giuliani in a general election match-up. Quinnipiac has Rudy ahead of Gillibrand by 50%-40% and ahead of Thompson by 52%-36%. Siena had Rudy leading Gillibrand by 49%-42%, and leading Thompson by 56%-34%.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bill Thompson, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10
Kirsten Gillibrand
Poll: Gillibrand Trails Giuliani, Narrowly Leads Pataki
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)
A new Siena poll shows that appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) continues to be in a marginal position going into her 2010 special election, though she remains the strongest potential Democratic nominee.
In general election match-ups, Gillibrand trails Rudy Giuliani by 49%-42%, and leads George Pataki by 43%. Against lesser-known Republican Bruce Blakeman, a possible candidate who is currently a commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Gillibrand leads by 52%-22%. The margin of error is ±3.8%.
Another Democrat was tested, outgoing New York City Comptroller and recent unsuccessful mayoral nominee Bill Thompson, who trails Giuliani by 56%-34% and Pataki by 49%-36%, and led Blakeman by 40%-23%.
In a potential Democratic primary, Gillibrand has 32%; Thompson has 23%; former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), who ran unsuccessfully for Senate from his original home state in 2006, has seven percent; and labor union organizer Jonathan Tasini, who is actually an active candidate, has only three points.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bill Thompson, George Pataki, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani, Senate '10
NY-SEN
Poll: Giuliani Ahead Of Gillibrand By Double Digits
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Another poll suggests that Rudy Giuliani could potentially beat appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), if he enters the 2010 Senate race as he's reportedly been considering.
The new numbers from Rasmussen: Giuliani 53%, Gillibrand 40%, with a ±4.5% margin of error. A Zogby poll yesterday gave Rudy a narrower lead of 45%-43%, within that poll's ±3.2% margin of error.
The pollster's analysis speculates that Giuliani could be getting a short-term boost in this Democratic state, due to the Obama administration's decision on terrorism trials: "Fifty-five percent (55%) of New York State voters oppose U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try the confessed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and five other suspected terrorists in a civilian court in New York City rather than before a military tribunal."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani
NY-SEN
Gillibrand Faces Trouble From Giuliani In New Poll
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)
Rudy Giuliani hasn't made up his mind about running for Senate for a second time, but a new poll out today from Zogby suggests he's in a good position to take a shot at winning the seat he ran for in 2000.
The poll shows Giuliani in a statistical dead heat with incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), who took over the seat earlier this year after Hillary Clinton left it to become Secretary of State. Giuliani leads a hypothetical matchup with Gillibrand 45-43, which is within the 3.2% margin of error. Former Gov. George Pataki (R), another potential candidate for the seat, trails Gillibrand 43-38.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: George Pataki, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani
Barack Obama
Fear Factor: The Four Ways Republicans Say Obama Will Kill You Now
Nidal Hasan, Pres. Obama, Khalid Sheik Mohammed
It's been a week since Attorney General Eric Holder announced that five terror suspects will be transferred from Guantanamo Bay to New York City to face trial. There are still a lot of questions to be answered about logistics, and it will likely be months before the first suspect sets foot in a federal courtroom.
Republicans have already told us what's going to happen, though: If you let President Obama have his way, you will die.
The GOP has returned to a familiar line on Obama and national security in the days since Holder's announcement. It's time to be afraid again, they say, hearkening back to the days of duct tape and Orange alerts even some Republicans thought they left behind on Election Day 2008.
So grab an assault rifle and keep the phone number for Operation TIPS close -- here are the four ways Republicans say Obama is putting your life at risk.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Barack Obama, Democrats, Eric Holder, GOP, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mark Kirk, National Security, Nidal Malik Hasan, Pete Hoekstra, Peter King, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Report: Rudy Will Run For Senate Against Gillibrand -- And Then For President Again
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
On the heels of a New York Times report that Rudy Giuliani won't be running for Governor of New York, the New York Daily News now reports that Rudy will instead run for Senate against appointed Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand -- and that if elected, he'll use it as a stepping stone to make another run for President!
The Daily News cites a source close to Rudy:
If elected, the source said, he would use that as a stepping stone to run for President in 2012 - and would not run for re-election to the Senate. A Giuliani spokeswoman downplayed the reports.
The New York Senate seat is up for a special election in 2010, due to the appointments of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Kirsten Gillibrand as Senator, but would then be up again for its regularly-scheduled election in 2012. Recent polls have actually given Rudy a lead over the lesser-known Gillibrand, though this would quickly be put to test in an actual campaign in a heavily Democratic state. For one thing, Rudy would face a lot of questioning about whether he's just using the Senate seat as a temporary stepping stone to the presidency.
Rudy's spokesperson downplayed the report: "When Mayor Giuliani makes a decision about serving in public office, he will inform New Yorkers on his own."
Late Update: Giuliani's spokeswoman is denying the story.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-GOV, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Report: Rudy Won't Run For Governor Of New York
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
The New York Times reports that Rudy Giuliani will not run for Governor of New York, a serious blow to Republican hopes of winning this big governorship in 2010:
It was not clear what prompted the decision, but the prospect of potentially facing Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who is quietly planning his own run for governor, may not have appealed to Mr. Giuliani, who suffered a bruising defeat in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. While many political analysts believe Mr. Giuliani would have comfortably beaten Gov. David A. Paterson, he would likely have faced an uphill battle against Mr. Cuomo, one of the most popular politicians in the state.PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
It remains unclear if the former mayor is considering any other political race in 2010. Some have urged him to take on the newly-installed Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, who has never run statewide and is still introducing herself to voters in parts of the state.
Topics: Andrew Cuomo, David Paterson, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-GOV, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani
Guantanamo Bay
Giuliani: I'm Glad To See We're At War Again
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
On a conference all with reporters just now, Rudy Giuliani said there was one thing about Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to bring terror suspects to New York City he could stand fully behind.
"I was glad to see Holder say 'we're at war,'" Giuliani said on the RNC-sponsored call. "I had thought we had virtually stopped being at war with the terrorists."
The former New York City mayor was referring to Friday's press conference by Holder where he announced the plan to try terrorists in the city.
Giuliani said he hoped the use of the word would hearken back to a return to the Bush era "War On Terror" which Giuliani said President Obama has abandoned, both in rhetoric and actions. "I was under the impression that the Obama administration thought this was just an unfortunate situation we're dealing with."
"'War' is important," he said.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Guantanamo Bay, Rudy Giuliani
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Today: Palin On Oprah Winfrey
Sarah Palin's interview on the Oprah Winfrey show will be broadcast today. The interview was taped last week, and kicks off Palin's media tour for her new book, Going Rogue.
Obama's Day In China
President Obama visited U.S. Consulate employees and their families in Shanghai, China, at 10:20 a.m. local time (9:20 p.m. ET last night). He met at 11 a.m. local time with Party Secretary Yu Zheng Sheng and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, with a working lunch at 11:30 a.m. local time. He held a town hall meeting with Chinese leaders at 12:45 p.m. local time. He departed Shanghai at 2:40 p.m., arriving in Beijing at 4:50 p.m. He arrived at the Diaoyutai State Guest House at 6:30 p.m., and was greeted by President Hu Jintao. The two held a bilateral meeting at 6:35 p.m, and had dinner at 7 p.m.
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Blanche Lincoln, Grover Norquist, Jeff Sessions, Joe Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Axelrod: Obama Opposed To Bill With Stupak Amendment
Appearing on State of the Union, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod said that President Obama would oppose the Stupak Amendment as a change in the status quo on abortion law. "The president has said repeatedly, and he said in his speech to Congress, that he doesn't believe that this bill should change the status quo as it relates to the issue of abortion," said Axelrod. Asked whether Obama would sign a final bill that contains the Stupak Amendment, Axelrod replied that Obama "believes both these issues and can and will be worked through before [the final bill] reaches his desk."
Conrad: Health Care Bill Can't Pass Without Restriction On Abortion Funding
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said that the health care bill cannot pass without something like the Stupak Amendment. "What is clear is at the end of the day, for this bill to be successful, that there cannot be taxpayer funding of abortion," said Conrad, also adding: "It was clear in the House. It'll be clear in the Senate."
Topics: Abortion, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Jack Reed, Kent Conrad, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Patrick Leahy, Pete Hoekstra, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Stupak amendment, Sunday Shows
NY-23
Giuliani, Pataki Record Robocalls For Hoffman
Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki have both recorded robocalls for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election.
Rudy declares that now that Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava has dropped out, this leaves Hoffman as the only choice to oppose Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He does not mention that Scozzafava, who was forced out of the race by national conservatives for her being too moderate, has endorsed the Democratic candidate Bill Owens.
"Not only is Doug Hoffman the only candidate who has pledged not to raise taxes, and not to vote for wasteful pork," says Rudy, "but now that Dede Scozzafava has decided to suspend her campaign, voting for Doug is the only way we can stop Nancy Pelosi from gaining one more liberal vote for higher taxes, higher federal deficits, and government-run health care."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bill Owens, Dede Scozzafava, Doug Hoffman, George Pataki, NY-23, Nancy Pelosi, Rudy Giuliani
NJ-GOV
Christie Bringing In Some GOP Stars For Home Stretch In New Jersey
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Fmr. US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
On a conference call with reporters this morning, the Chris Christie campaign announced a marathon schedule of events all around the state for the final week of the campaign -- and they'll be getting some special guests.
Campaign adviser Mike DuHaime said the campaign will be joined by Rudy Giuliani, Tim Pawlenty, and former New Jersey Governors Tom Kean and Christie Whitman. Specific days and events were not announced for these guest-stars at this time.
I asked whether the campaign is at a disadvantage to the Corzine campaign, which has been able to bring in popular national Democrats like President Obama, Vice President Biden and former President Bill Clinton. By contrast, a lot of national Republicans wouldn't be popular draws in New Jersey, such as Sarah Palin and other conservative figures.
"It's no greater disadvantage than it is to run in New Jersey to begin with," said DuHaime, due to the state having 700,000 more Democrats than Republican, and Corzine able to spend a lot of his own money on the race.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chris Christie, NJ-GOV, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Pawlenty
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Big Banks Must Help Small Businesses
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama talked about his administration's commitment to small businesses -- and called on large banks that have been helped by the bailout to do their part:
"But while credit may be more available for large businesses, too many small business owners are still struggling to get the credit they need," said Obama. "These are the very taxpayers who stood by America's banks in a crisis - and now it's time for our banks to stand by creditworthy small businesses, and make the loans they need to open their doors, grow their operations, and create new jobs. It's time for those banks to fulfill their responsibility to help ensure a wider recovery, a more secure system, and more broadly shared prosperity. And we're going to take every appropriate step to encourage them to meet those responsibilities."
Johanns Denounces 'Shameful' Health Care Deals
In this weekend's Republican address, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) went after the Democrats on health care:
"We're about to significantly alter one-sixth of our economy -- now is not the time to shut Americans out," said Johanns. "Reports of this deal-making are shameful. Why do Michigan, Rhode Island, Oregon and Nevada get special deals on Medicaid costs? Why do New Yorkers with Cadillac plans get a pass on paying the tax? It is shameful. So now, as a select few deliberate over legislation that will mean higher premiums across the board; higher taxes for hard-working families; and cuts to Medicare for senior citizens; I ask: will this improve your life?"
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Bailout, Barack Obama, Ben Bernanke, Chris Christie, Climate Change, Health Care, House '10, Jim Inhofe, Jon Corzine, Mike Johanns, NJ-GOV, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Swine Flu, Tom Price
NY-GOV
Giuliani Has His Pick Of Incumbents, NY Voters Say
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
New Yorkers are ready to let Rudy Giuliani throw the bums out, according to a new poll from Siena University. The former New York City mayor leads the current Democratic incumbents in a potential governors race or U.S. Senate bid according to the survey of 624 registered voters, which was Oct. 14-18. Giuliani has not declared his intentions to run for either race, but observers expect him to mount a gubernatorial bid.
Giuliani beats Gov. David Paterson 56-33 in potential 2010 matchup. Paterson has been suffering under very low approval ratings for months and national Democrats have made it clear they hope he won't run. The new poll again justifies their pressure on Paterson, as Democrats beat Giuliani with popular state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as their nominee. Like Giuliani, Cuomo has not declared his intentions in the race.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Andrew Cuomo, David Paterson, George Pataki, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-GOV, NY-SEN, Rudy Giuliani
David Paterson
Paterson: My 'Phantom' Opponents Better Put Up Or Shut Up
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY), trying to salvage his chances in next year's election after it leaked that the White House asked him to step aside, told his gubernatorial opponents -- none of whom have officially announced -- to have "courage" and "get up and say what you'd do now."
"When all these phantom people who say they're running for office get into this race, they are gonna have to answer the same questions I've been answering for 18 months," he said on CNBC this morning. "And, by the way, if they wanted to show they were different and they were exciting and they were gonna make Albany a different place, why don't they answer those questions now?"
Paterson wouldn't say whether he was talking about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, or Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Barack Obama, David Paterson, NY-GOV, Rudy Giuliani
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