Guiliani For President?

What a laugher. Sure he polls well at the moment. But no matter what Chris Bowers thinks, there is NO WAY that Rudy is going to get the Republican nomination. I'd be surprised if he was even considered for 2nd spot. Rudy is pro-gay, anti-gun, and pro-choice. His personal life is a mess. He has health problems. Yes he polls very well right now, but that's because all anyone outside of New York knows about him is that he performed well on 9/11. If Guiliani does run for President in 2008, his GOP rivals will be happy to show pictures of Rudy in drag and arm in arm with gay rights activists. Won't that will go over great in the ultra-conservative Republican primary electorate.

When I wrote about this last in August, I thought that Guiliani's presence could complicate McCain's life, because they would both be after the moderate GOP/independent vote. But McCain's recent embrace of cultural conservatives (and their current lack of a standard bearer) could mean that Guiliani would be a useful foil for McCain. The Arizona Senator could trumpet his opposition to gay rights, abortion, and gun control , thereby burnishing his conservative image and rallying the right to his cause. This would hurt McCain's chances in the general election, but that's another matter.

So Guiliani could certainly make an impact in the race, given his high profile and ability to alter the issue profile. But getting the nomination? No way.

Update: Carpetbagger Report writes along the same lines.