Giuliani Endorsement Gives McCain Visible Boost Going Into Super Tuesday
Rudy Giuliani, shown here speaking to supporters in Orlando following his third place finish in the Florida primary Tuesday, is endorsing John McCain before the GOP debate Wednesday in California. (AP Photo)
Rudy Giuliani formally dropped his presidential bid and endorsed John McCain Wednesday, setting up the Arizona senator with valuable support and big press heading into Super Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Giuliani pledged to campaign with McCain wherever he is needed, and touted his former rival as an “American hero” and “the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States.”
Giuliani spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., where the Republicans had been gathering to debate Wednesday night.
“He came from way behind to go way ahead, and once again displayed his tenacity, his courage, his ability to focus, his ability to get things done,” Giuliani said, referring to McCain’s surge over the past two months. “I can’t imagine a campaign that better demonstrates who the person to be president of the United States should be.”
On his plane en route to The Golden State, the former New York City mayor said that he opted to end his faltering campaign because he did not want to eat into McCain’s support on Super Tuesday, when just four remaining candidates will battle for the 1,023 delegates allocated from 21 states voting that day.
“It’s disappointing to lose a race for president because you believe you’re the best candidate, but I had made it clear before I had to make this decision who I thought the other best candidate was,” Giuliani said.
As Giuliani exits, McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul will be scrambling to embody the message espoused by the namesake of Wednesday’s debate site.
For McCain, appealing to conservative voters is a must. Though he won the Florida primary Tuesday on the backs of several powerful voting blocs, exit polls showed conservatives trended more toward Romney. McCain has been under steady attack from prominent conservatives like former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and faces the scourge of conservative radio talk show hosts deriding his record in the Senate.
A new ad set to air Thursday from the group Citizens United attacks McCain’s positions on tax cuts, gun control and illegal immigration, calling him “surprisingly liberal.”
“It’s to educate the American people … that John McCain is not a conservative, never has been a conservative. He talks the talk but he’s never walked the walk,” Citizens United President Dave Bossie told FOX News Wednesday.
Wednesday’s debate was also the last chance for Romney to try to topple McCain as the presumed front-runner before Super Tuesday, Feb. 5. McCain is riding a wave of momentum from his victories in Florida, South Carolina and New Hampshire, while Romney has pursued a more low-key quest for delegates, winning Michigan, Nevada and Wyoming.
Romney said on FOX News that the choice for voters is either McCain, “or do they want to vote for me — who does his best to bring together the Republican coalition that Ronald Reagan built?”
Romney has frequently pointed voters to his resume in the private sector, as the economy has emerged as the top issue this election year, trumping the Iraq war and illegal immigration. Meanwhile, McCain has sought to cast Romney as weak on national security, and touts his criticism of the war’s conduct before the surge as demonstrative of his ability to be commander in chief.
GOP strategist Terry Holt told FOX News that Giuliani’s endorsement is “an easy fit” for McCain.
“The two national security agendas are very similar,” he said. “I think most of the voters who were going for Giuliani will probably end up going for McCain … it reinforces his position as the frontrunner in the race.”
McCain’s victory in Florida sets up the GOP contest as a presumed two-person race, but Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, is not giving up the fight.
After placing fourth in Florida, Huckabee said he’ll be concentrating on southern states Feb. 5.
“Quite frankly we have a scenario in which we could still win the nomination,” he said. “We think we’re in this thing for the long haul … I’m still sluggin’ away for the gold medal.”
On the plane to California Wednesday, Giuliani told reporters there was no quid pro quo involved in his endorsement of McCain.
“I’m not seeking the vice president nomination. It’s way too premature for anybody to be speculating about vice presidential candidates. I’m not seeking a position in government,” he said.
As to why he stuck with his failing strategy of waiting out other early voting states to focus on Florida, where he finished third Tuesday, Giuliani said he had no other choice.
“Obviously the strategy didn’t work. So we’re going to go back and try to figure out why. I don’t have the answer for that … It was the strategy available to us. It was the only realistic strategy available to us given my strengths, my weaknesses, given the amount of money we were able to raise, and given the places we thought we could make a big impact.”
Click here to read more about Giuliani explaining his decision to drop out and endorse McCain.
FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
I just contributed another chunk for Mitt Romney too. If you want to know how you can do that go to http:/mittromney.com/contribution/form:fid=513000,sc=EUS007. Hope I got that right, but you can also go to mittromney.com and look for contribution.
We’re discussing our views, but the only way we can stay a healthy nation is electing Mitt Romney. I’m old enough to have been around when Dwight Eisenhower was elected, so I’ve been around the block a time or two. I promise you that John McCain is no friend of the Republicans. Apparently neither was Giuliani, but we should have known that. He marched in the gay parade and dressed the part in NY. Shocking but true. I’m disappointed in Sean Hannity for pushing him in our face all the time. And much as we love the sweet, smiling Huckabee, he’s not a good man. He’ll tell you anything you want to hear but the truth about his tenure as Gov in Arkansas. Now is the time and the place to come together. Open your eyes America!!! See beyond the talk and look at the man and his record. There is no one equal to Mitt Romney. Beyond voting for him, campaign for him, call all of your friends for him. McCain and his buddy Huck will sink the raft. PLEASE SUPPORT MITT ROMNEY ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
As an economist I have to say I am disappointed in the Republicans. If John McCain is our “republican” nominee I will not vote in this election and I know of many more who feel like me. As a female hispanic voter Mitt has my 100% support and I am starting a movement in my graduate program. Hispanics for Romney!
Anyone familiar with McCain’s record knows that he’s not a strong social or fiscal conservative. However, Romney’s record is even worse and I have no reason he did not switch all his positions just for this race.
If you liked Duncan Hunter, you should vote for the viable candidate that he is supporting: Mike Huckabee. The press is not giving Mike any air time and $$ has never been his strong position (unlike Romney). However, with the Republican base uniting behind him.. he absolutely can win this. He’s first or tied for first in 5-6 states for super Tues. That gives him a pretty big shot to keep going.
I hear so often how Mike raised taxes or supported bad policies, etc.. but I’ve done my homework. You can debate some things, but it’s hard to call Huckabee a liberal. That’s what you would normally call the MA governor or John McCain in a non-election year.
If he liked taxes then Huckabee wouldn’t have sought to show the ridiculousness of the liberal tax and spend philosophy. Gov. Huckabee created the “Tax Me More Fund,” so anyone who thought they were undertaxed could donate more to the state government. It’s gathered less than $3000, but did gather some moss. No one believes they should be taxed more.. only the liberal elites believe you should take more of everyone’s money by force to pay for something they’ve thought up.
Vote Huckabee!! http://www.mikehuckabee.com
I was for Rudy, and understand him endorsing his friend. But, McCain is very suddenly running conservative. He is not really, and his record shows that! Rudy was conservative
fiscally and on security, but not evengelical. That’s why I liked him!
McCain has to be beaten because he really was never for Bush’s tax cuts or for “death” to death
taxes. He’s spoken against both many times! It’s amazing so many GOP voters are falling for this “conservative act” now.
Huckabee absolutely should drop out of the race and endorse Romney. It looks like the only way to stop McCain from pulling the wool over the (GOP) voter’s eyes!
Now that Guiliani has outed himself as a McCain liberal republician we see why he had that idiotic stragedy. If the fellow lib republisians think that because McShame won in New Hampshire and Florida(by 4%) that he is a lock, your just showing ignorance. What a suprise that McCain won in a state full of illegal immigrant enablers and handout loving old people(The Greatest Generation is dead). Wait until he gets to the real red states(jesus land). I have no doubt that he will win in the blue states but not where people care about being backstabbed. Ronald Reagan would be ashamed that Rudy and McCain are the wannabe torch bearers of the conservative movement. I know Reagan signed an amnesty bill but he could not have forseen that lobbyists and congress would not enforce the laws on the books. Now Romney is truly the only conservative with a record of success in the private sector so in order to keep a socialist out of the White house, Romney will win the nomination but it will be interesting to see who he will choose as a running mate.
Guliani has shown his colors. He was my second choice, but now I can see that he does not have our country first on his priority list. This is sad. He knows what McCain is about and still endorses his corruption and lies.
My vote is for character and experience. Romney isn’t afraid to pull together experts on both sides of an issue, in fact he seeks it out so he can then make the best choices for the problem at hand. His pride isn’t a factor, doing whats right is. Even if that means he has to say he was wrong and has learned from it.
McCain throws a temper tantrum, loses control of his tongue and displays incredible stubborness and pride if anyone dissents on his ideas. Look it up…it’s easy to find.
Even if Romney isn’t perfect, and no one is. The intent of his heart and the undeniable evidence of his record show he is a man of his word. Some of the good he did in MA was undone by his successor and is being twisted by the agenda driven media to discredit him.
I read somewhere…Who of all the candidates would you trust to care for your family and business if you had to leave them for even a week?
The corrupt dinosaurs on the hill are getting nervous. Kennedy knows that Hillary would never beat Romney, her skeltons will all come back to haunt her. I believe his positioning is to protect his special interests. He knows that the only way to defeat Romney is through last minute lies carried on the wings of the press. He’s been there and done that. And he’s hedging his bets with an Obama shield.
In the end, I still believe that there are enough good, honest men and women in this country that can take a stand for truth. Our combined votes will be more powerful than any of the filth and corruption running rampant in our government.
Take a stand, educate your family and friends, get active in the campaign, even if it’s only in some small way.
“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.”
John Adams
Lets take back this process of democracy and send the message that we can see through the lies and want a real man in the White House.
“BREATHES THERE THE MAN WITH SOUL SO DEAD
WHO NEVER TO HIMSELF HATH SAID
THIS IS MY HOME MY NATIVE LAND….” - Sir Walter Scott
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!
Guiliani is not a conservatice and neither is the Democrat’s candidiadte for the Republican nomination - John McCain. They deserve eahc other.
McCain is going to win, McCain is going to win!!!! I am pretty happy about that and feel good that our Country will continue to be safe.
Everytime a politicians endorses McCain… I think to myself… there goes the establishment supporting the status-quo. To all those actors and signers that support politicians… Shut up and sing. Stay out of politics unless you have an cause that you are supporting (Special thanks and exception to the rule; Angelina Jolie for great work with UN via donations even though the UN stole her money as it is not accounted for what it was spent on.)
Think about it… why would the establishment not like Mitt Romney? Is he the ROSS PEROT that everyone wanted to believe in without the charts for the Republican Party? When he said that he would spend his own money because he would not be held accountable by any special interest. Isn’t this what we have been waiting and are looking for? We have great military leaders. Rumsfeld and GWB did not listen to them. I am banking that Mitt will let the Brass lead as they should under his guidance.
TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY…
WE HAVE WAITED AND THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS NEW CHANGE WHEN WE ELECTED GWB. WE RECEIVED 9/11 AND EVERYTHING WENT OUT THE WINDOW. MITT ROMNEY IS COMING TO US WITH NEW IDEAS. IT MUST BE GOOD WHEN THE STATUS-QUO IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO QUIET HIM. CAN WE TRUST OUR CURRENT REPUBLICAN LEADERS THAT ACT MORE LIKE DEMOCRATS TO TELL US WHOM THEY THINK CAN DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED AND DELIVERED ANYTHING FOR US. THINK ABOUT IT… WE HAVE LESS THAN A WEEK TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. *** DO NOT LET THEM WAG THE DOG!!!! ******
MITT ROMNEY - 2008.
Well the best is gone and now we must settle for the best of the worst. If McCain does win the nomination he best start acting like a republican instead of a Democrat