Rudy Giuliani’s campaign held a blogger conference call with Campaign Manager Mike DuHaime and Communications Director Katie Levinson.
Two things seemed quite clear to me.
First, Rudy is running on his record as mayor. He is not wrapping himself around 9/11. This cuts both ways. On the one hand, no one in this country will need to be reminded about 9/11 and his role in it. On the other hand, is Mayor too limiting of a role? And doesn’t it remind Americans about New York in the wrong way? Is the difference between Mayor of NYC and President kind of like the difference between one billion and one trillion? People talk about it, but don’t really understand it? I sort of doubt it.
Second, he is running on electability. After two questions on abortion, DuHaime went into a long, long riff about all the states that Giuliani can win. He said that Rudy could credibly win in NJ, CT, PA, OR, and WA. And he could compete in CA, NY, and IL.
I think that this analysis is correct. However, I think that it is interesting that it came in response to questions about abortion and the future of the GOP (should this be a pro-life party?). The response suggested that their real answer is that we do not have the luxury of picking the "right" candidate, we just have to win. And with polls like the most recent Newsweek poll, there’s something to be said to that. But do primary voters believe that? Do the interest groups? (especially social conservative interest groups could expect to lose power under a Giuliani administration)