Rudy’s first NH campaign stop. Heady days, indeed… (GG photo)
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Long-time ‘Grok readers know that Rudy Giuliani was at one time at the top of the list of people we wanted to see gain the Republican nomination. Based on attending numerous events here in NH, we thought he had that air of enthusiasm and confidence necessary to beat the Democrat nominee come November of ’08. We even found America’s Mayor to be rather Reaganesque, perhaps more than any of the other wannabees, Mitt Romney’s Reagan coiffe notwithstanding…
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Unlike other pundits, I disagree with the notion that Rudy didn’t campaign enough in NH which cost him his chance. I was able to see and hear about him through visits, media coverage, and mail pieces as much, it seemed, as any of the others that ran serious campaigns here in the Granite State. Fred Thompson might have "phoned it in," but in my opinion, Rudy put in the necessary effort our First in the Nation Primary requires. As I said in this November post, when I began to have doubts,
Matt Drudge caused the collapse of the Giuliani campaign.
Once the seed of doubt was sown regarding Giuliani mayoral administration irregularities surrounding the police-detail, mistress protection flap, his goose was cooked. Even though it turned out to be a story with much ado about nothing, when coupled with his estranged children and the Bernard Kerik mess, it was, as it became clear to me and many others apparently, too much for Republicans to risk.
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It’s too bad, in some ways, because after hearing Hizzoner speak on a number of occasions, I still believe that he has the leadership skills that the position of President requires.
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So long Rudy. We’re glad we got to know you, and have no regrets for our one-time excitement over the prospect of you gaining the GOP nod…
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