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.
The media wants McCain to win because most journalists are liberal or centrist, many veterans want McCain to win because he is one of them, the RNC wants McCain to win because they think he has the best chance of beating the Dems, Hispanics want McCain to win because he will give amnesty to illegal immigrants (80% of which are Hispanic).
So, McCain will win. The people in the United States either have no power, or no power to resist doing what they are told to do. Sad.
Our media system is so bias and unfair it makes me sick. Yes the democratic nomination is now a 2 man race, but the repuclican nomination is far from being a two man race. Mike Huckabee is a great presidential choice. If you are truely for life, marriage, the right to protect yourself from someone coming into your home to hurt you (2nd amendment), securing the borders, stopping the government from taking your money and letting you decide how to spend it (the fair tax)… the Huckabee is your man. However, the media has decided that Huckabee can’t get any further, so they give him no attention. Remember the polls right after Iowa that showed Huckabee could beat Clinton and Obama in the final race or did everyone forget that point. I guess Mike should have kept providing a plane and bus for the press corp, providing meals and hotels, and then maybe he would be getting equal treatment. People are going to be quite surprised come super tuesday, watch and see.
Huckabee is no longer a real contender for president. He’s just in the race to deprive conservative votes that would otherwise fall to Romney. If you’ve watched the campaigning from the beginning, you can see that he is now just pining for a vice president’s job with McCain. (p.s. Huckabee is a good, respectable guy–just not a great candidate for president).
Mitt Romney is the most qualified candidate for president.
I don’t trust a thing McCain says. He knows he’s lying and yet he won’t back down. Is this the guy you want as president. The only reason that he’s getting endorsements from fellow politicians is because he’s been a politician FOREVER.
I like what Romney stands for. I like his intelligence and plans. Not only will he be a great leader, but he will surround himself with quality people. He will have an incredible cabinet. I wish people would watch the debates or read a little more to find out about the candidates rather than watch the what the media chooses to slop out.
ROMNEY in 2008!
I can’t seem to wrap my head around all of this. There are no Reagan conservatives in this race. I am a college student stuck in an extremely liberal place…all the principles, values and morals of the conservative party are lost..people call themselves republicans and conservatives and it is a load of crap. I read your messages and they disturb me..don’t vote for a democrat JUST because you hate McCain..please for the love of God and all that is good, DON’T DO THAT. The Clinton’s are scary people and Obama has no credentials..Romney isn’t a bad guy- I hear so many people saying, “he is a mormon, im not voting for him.” His mormon beliefs drive him, but there is no doubt that he will keep division of church and state. Vote! please vote! (for a republican!)
I am a Conservative but will vote for Obama/Clinton if McCain is my only other option. I figure America will elect a few Congressmen/Senators who will keep either in check as in 1994. Then by the next election, Republicans will have learned what Conservative America wants, and it’s not a phony like McCain.
All you so called republicans are ignorant of the facts. Not only is John McCain an american hero, but he is a true conservative. The only reason why he voted against the Bush tax cuts was because there were no spending cuts attached. When you cut taxes and raise spending, you create deficits, any economist or someone who studied economics 101 will tell you that. Second, John McCain has the second most conservative voting record in the senate, if any of you so-called “pundits” have done your homework you would know that. Third, McCain unlike Romney has been consistent on every issue since running for the nomination. Be smart, vote McCain
A true hero, a true conservative, a true Republican
The reason Rudy lost Florida is because he lost he 9-11 rallying cry. Rupukes don’t care about the Iraq war anymore. Bush and company have tied 9-11 and Iraq together (in the simple minds of Repukes). Exit polls in Floriday listed the economy as Repukes first concern, and the Iraq war as last. Republicans are pathetic. They start a war, but lose interest as soon and their wallets are affected. If Repukes had to pay for this war, it would have never happened.
Go Romney!!!! McCain’s smug face was disturbing. I am so glad that the American people were able to see how McCain got caught in his own lie. I live in Arizona born and raised and I can tell you that McCain has only hurt this state. He is only looking out for number one and him running for President is just a notch he wants on his belt. He does not really care about America, just like he didn’t care for Arizona. I know that McCain will destroy this country if he is elected. There is no point voting for a republican over a democrat if all the republican is, is a democrat in sheeps clothing. Go Romney!!!
McCain has many old republican establishment politician endorsements -
These people obviously wouldn’t want a Washington outsider who doesn’t owe them any favors to stir things up in Washington. They want someone who will do more of the same and try to make them all happy.
Every time McCain starts naming off his Washington friends who are voting for him, I feel more inclined to vote for someone who is not intertwined in all these politicians.
Let’s show Washington that we want someone in office who will work for “we the people” and not for them “the politicians”! Mitt ‘08