A new poll by CNN shows Rudy Giuliani with a significant lead over his nearest rival for the Republican nomination. The poll taken March 9-11 shows Giuliani with 34% and John McCain at 18%. McCain has lost 8 points since a similar poll in late January had him at 26%. Of course the McCain campaign saw this as good news. According to CNN:
McCain's support has slumped in the past few weeks and now sits at its lowest point in six months. His campaign, however, said the senator is happy with his role as underdog because it will allow him to surprise the front-runner, as he did during his campaign against President Bush in 2000, when he won the New Hampshire primary.
Yes he did do that then proceeded to get creamed by Bush in South Carolina. In spite of the McCain campaign's claims to the contrary this cannot be how they imagined things unfolding to this point. Even though it is very early in the campaign the Giuliani team has to be pleased. This could provide them with a boost in fund raising. Giuliani is currently trying to woo conservative republicans by focusing on issues where they have agreement and downplaying what are considered his more "liberal" positions. He recently received two endorsements to help his cause:
In a move to attract conservatives skeptical of his position on social issues such as gun control, abortion rights and same-sex civil unions, Giuliani's campaign Monday announced endorsements from Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, and former Solicitor General Ted Olson, whose wife, Barbara, was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Monday's endorsements are a part of Giuliani's strategy to focus on issues where his stance is attractive to social conservatives -- such as fighting terrorism, offering strong leadership, restraining federal spending and appointing "strict constructionists" to the federal bench -- rather than social issues where they disagree.
Although his lead in the race is widening it was not all good news as his favorability has dropped slightly from a Poll taken last November:
In November, 60 percent of likely American voters had a favorable view of Giuliani and only 18 percent viewed him unfavorably. His favorable rating has since dropped 4 percent and his unfavorable rating has risen to 21 percent.
McCain has an even bigger problem in this area:
In Monday's poll, 47 percent of likely voters viewed McCain favorably, while 27 percent had an unfavorable view. In November, 52 percent viewed the Arizona senator favorably, while 22 percent had a negative view.
Third place in the poll was shared by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 9% each. No one else polled over 3%. This is clearly a two horse race at this time with one horse showing a little separation. It is too early for this poll to be a real indicator of how things will shake out in the primaries, but it may demonstrate that conservative republicans are not as put off by Giuliani as some pundits may have thought and it certainly does not bode well for McCain who I think was expected to be the front runner in this race.
Although I would expect the Bush administration and their propaganda source the Faux (un)fair and (un)balanced network to spin it differently, it was more of the same for the President and his VP. The poll shows 37% approve and 56% disapprove of the way the Bush is handling his job as president. This was a 3% uptick in approval since January but that is within the margin of error so it is not a statistically significant increase. His disapproval showed a decline of 7% since January 63% to 56%, but those with no opinion at all increased by 4% from 3% to 7% which may indicate that some who disapproved before have become apathetic and don't care to share an opinion at all. His strongly approve/disapprove numbers were 19% approve and 42% disapprove. Given the way the Faux network handled the Libby verdict, It would be reasonable to expect a headline that says "Bush surges in polls on good news from Iraq" or something similar.
The poll results were virtually the same for dead-eye Dick who has a 34% approval and 54% disapproval rating with 11 % having no opinion.
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Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change -- Andre Gide
The GOP created their own problems
by being too strict and judgemental. Also, allowing the born-agains to have a big voice is causing them to realize they don't measure up to their own standards. Well, they reap what they sow, so I will not shed a tear for them.
That said: I saw two theo-cons on a pundit show last night. One was Richard Land and the other was some Southern Baptist organization. They said they had a problem with Guilianni & McCain because of three marriages; however, it was not a problem having two marriages. Interesting. I guess if they had to take a stand about being true and staying married, none of the Rethugs would qualify. Plus, dear old senile Ronnie Reagan would have been disqualified too.
They are all hypocrites and their words are coming back to haunt them. Romney may be the only one who has stayed married, but conservatives don't like him because he is a Mormon. The fast growing LDS is a threat to the southern bible thumpers. Should be a fun year for watching the GOP unravel and kill their own.
I agree with everything you said and more
They came into power most recently in 1980 when Americans threw out every liberal democrat except Ted Kennedy. Voters bought into the Reagan promise of smaller government and a wealthier population. The general population did not get wealthier. The government had to start measuring total household income instead of personal income in order to make it look like middle class Americans weren't taking the beating they were taking. It took Americans 20 years to figure out that their lives were much worse and they were working harder and receiving less. I think this is one reason the unions are starting to show some strength again. Republicans gave us a much bigger government that did very little to benefit the lives of average people while creating the largest corporate welfare state ever seen.
__________________________Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change -- Andre Gide
Candidates
I think I would just have to shoot myself if McCain gets in office - just to have to listen to his "droning" voice - forget the politics, he is just plain boring. I love your comment about his win in New Hampshire - what an idiot - to even make such a comment. This is the campaign that if the Democrats can't win back the White House - we should give up the party.
Firefighters say HELL NO to Giuliani
New Yorkers know that there is SO MUCH dirt on Giuliani that he has little chance. He will have a harder time being the 9/11 candidate now that the Firefighters union is saying HELL NO to Giuliani. The real 9/11 heroes will take him down in time.