Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Rudy   [Rich Lowry]

I thought he was very good last night on H&C. He passes the presidential test. Dick Morris was right when he said right afterwards (quoting from memory), “Now, that's a president.” And I've gone a little wobbly on the question of whether he could get the nomination. I used to be basically a “never” guy. But I was talking to a pro-life conservative pollster who is uncommitted in the '08 race who was making the case that Rudy could get it—just because national security looms so large as an issue. Also, there's definitely something to JPod's case that Giuliani is different from past pro-choice candidates because he's not attempting a full frontal confrontation with social conservatives.  

On the other hand, Giuliani might not be fighting with social conservatives now, but wait till they start fighting with him. He will be sorely tested not to push back—and then it could get ugly. There might be something as well to Kevin Drum's theory that people have vague positive associations with Giuliani that might not withstand prolonged scrutiny of him.

02/06 03:56 PMShare