Video: Rudy for Governor?
posted at 11:38 am on May 14, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Rudy Giuliani may not have finished his career in public office, at least not in New York. Despite not having publicly entertained the notion of running for governor, Giuliani’s cachet has increased markedly over the last month. Quinnipiac’s latest poll shows an 11-point gain for Rudy against Andrew Cuomo:
In an early look at the 2010 Governor’s race, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads Paterson 54 – 32 percent. Giuliani leads 86 – 6 percent among Republicans and 60 – 21 percent among independent voters, while Democrats back Paterson 56 – 30 percent. Giuliani leads 62 – 25 percent among white voters and 51 – 42 percent among Hispanics, while black voters back Paterson 64 – 18 percent.
Cuomo leads Giuliani 47 – 41 percent in a head-to-head matchup, down from a 53 – 36 percent lead April 6. Independent voters have shifted from 49 – 38 percent for Cuomo April 8 to 44 – 40 percent for Giuliani today. In this latest survey, Giuliani leads 80 – 9 percent among Republicans while Democrats back Cuomo 78 – 16 percent. Cuomo leads 76 – 13 percent among black voters and 52 – 40 percent among Hispanics, as white voters go to Giuliani 47 – 42 percent.
“If the Republicans nominate Mayor Giuliani, he beats Paterson by a lot. Cuomo beats Giuliani but that lead is shrinking as independent voters shift to the Republican. That’s a trend to watch,” Carroll said.
What has happened in the past month? Giuliani has gained five points, but Cuomo has lost six, even while maintaining a high job-approval rating of 68%. A well-known candidate with that kind of approval rating doesn’t lose eleven points to a candidate who hasn’t even suggested publicly that he wants the office, nor lose six points all on his own.
So what happened? I’d guess that New York has seen enough Hope and Change in Washington and has begun to sour on it. Nothing done in the past month by Cuomo or especially Giuliani accounts for it. This looks like a referendum on the kind of far-Left policies championed by both Cuomo and Barack Obama, and disillusion appears to have begun, at least in New York.
Let’s hope Rudy runs. That would make a fascinating race.
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Rudy could’ve been president. Easy. But noooo.
lorien1973 on May 14, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Run, Rudy, run! Oh, and campaign for Rubio to stick a fork in Crist. Turn about is fair play.
myrenovations on May 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM
That would make for an … interesting race. Guiliani and Cuomo both play hardball. I don’t know if there are enough independents left in NY to get him over the line though. Most sane people in Upstate left for greener pastures.
NYCcon on May 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Ed, my guess on Cuomo’s numbers could be a little backlash from the war he’s declared against Wall Street. He’s been indicting and trying to indict CEOs and financial guys all over. Here’s to hoping Rudy run’s too, God knows NY needs a comeback.
youngO on May 14, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Rudy, start fighting hard before the smear machine attacks!
Paterson, just go away…
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:44 AM
We’ll vote for Rudy… don’t worry.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Even sane liberals should figure out that if you demonize everyone in NYC who makes money (wall street), then there won’t BE any money left. And who’s going to pay for that?
Many liberals are seeing the effect of all those job losses, too.
Vanceone on May 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Rudy>Pataki>Spitzer>Paterson.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:46 AM
He should have run for higher office, senate or governor as soon as his stint as a mayor was over. He could have been President then.
promachus on May 14, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Rudy has too much baggage for a national ticket, but New York loves him.
He has that special “it” factor. If only his personal life wasn’t such a mess, he would have given Obama a run.
But…we have to confuse personal life and running a country.
The two seldom correlate…that’s like saying, we won’t put the best general in charge of the battle, because he was divorced and has two kids out of wedlock…let’s lose the battle instead.
right2bright on May 14, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Hope NY follows CA in becoming purple, if not outright red.
promachus on May 14, 2009 at 11:48 AM
any chance scare force 1 reminded new yorkers who they want in power when the s*** hits the fan???
Mojack420 on May 14, 2009 at 11:48 AM
That’s where my vote was…
Count to 10 on May 14, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Worst. Campaign. Ever.
Bruno Strozek on May 14, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Run for governor, Rudy. That will keep you busy so that you don’t fancy another run for president.
HornetSting on May 14, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Yep. Here too.
lorien1973 on May 14, 2009 at 11:49 AM
But the Ds are the new majority for a
thousand years, or so we’ve been told.
And BTW, Rudy for Guv, not for Pres.
He really did have a shot, could have
locked the nomination early, if only
he’d put out an explicit compromise position
on abortion. He should have said essentially
“look, we disagree and I know my position
is the minority one in the party, so I
promise to advance the majority R position
is elected.” That wouldn’t have got everybody
but would have got enough. But he didn’t
so I guess he’s not really serious about
being Top Dog and I want someone serious.
No more Bushs or McCains or Doles thank you
very much.
edshepp on May 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
A perfect fit for the state of New York. The present state of affairs at the state level is so incompetent that the timing of his entering the race could be optimum. If he can do at the state level what he did for NYC, they could recover from the gluttonous spending and maybe regain some semblance of financial responsibility. Not sure the NY voters are that bright.
volsense on May 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Now that’s a scary thought. I remember when Dennis Miller was talking him up for president big time on his radio show. That’s what made me stop listening to him. Are there no real conservative left in NY anywhere? I can’t for the life of me believe that this megalomaniac is the best choice for anything. Sounds to me like the MSM is still trying to pick candidates.
Tommy_G on May 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Music to my ears.
Knucklehead on May 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Like I said, give it time. Another year of this and anyone with a “D” by their name will have serious problems getting reelected in all but the bluest of states.
Doughboy on May 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Let us pray all New Yorkers do not have short term or long term memory loss when it comes to the Scare Force One incident and the same for the total eradication of wealth or money flow to its residents via the impending socialism. GO RUDY GO!
Dittos to supporting Rubio! I am not buying it that Crist is such an easy win. And besides, what happened to our needing fresh faces and not the same old, same old? Crist looks like McCain and THAT is the same old, same old most Americans do not prefer. Plus, did Crist not make some rather derogatory moves towards the tea parties in Florida?
freeus on May 14, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Rudy’s name was still on the primary ballot in CA, so I voted for him even though he told everyone to vote for McCain.
Count to 10 on May 14, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Rudy as NY’s Govenor would be the best, give us some real solid conservatives as governors of alot of high profile states, and from there you start really seeing the difference between liberal and conservative governance
Defector01 on May 14, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Some people are saying that Rudy should be a politician at the national level… perhaps senator, but I think his place is in New York. He could actually put some fiscal discipline back into the system and yet appeal to many democrats. He’s NYS’s last hope before Spitzer-Paterson-Cuomo sell off the state to Washington.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Given that NYS has that life-sucking money grabbing entity called NYC, I think Rudy may be the best NY can get.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Rudy should get into this race. He is a former prosecutor, so he can take on Cuomo on the “law-and-order” issue, and is the only Republican who can “break even” in NYC, due to his post-9/11 popularity.
If Rudy can break even in NYC, he can win upstate and win the Governorship. He’s a good fit for New York.
Steve Z on May 14, 2009 at 11:56 AM
If Rudy enters, and fights HARD, I’d put my money on him. You are spot on with your analysis.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 11:57 AM
And who is it that is racist, and votes on the color of someones skin?
MDWNJ on May 14, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Did the Scareforce Once incident have anything to do with the poll numbers shifting?
Knucklehead on May 14, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I think running for Gov. would be a good move for Rudy and he’d do well at it.
t.ferg on May 14, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I don’t know of any other NY politician who could be a better governor who could also win the election. Does anyone?
Loxodonta on May 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM
For those of you who voted for Liberal Rudy, for pres, I am sorry you got suckered into kicking the Soc Con out of the party. I on the other hand was a true conservative and voted for a true conservative not a RINO. I was a Fred Head.
BroncosRock on May 14, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I think Rudy’s gain has more to do about the name “Cuomo” than “Obama” in NY. Nobody likes the progressive policies, but Obama’s still a popular guy – for now.
I’m hearing people here hear the word “Cuomo” and say, “Not again.” Then they hear he’s the AG, like Spitzer, and say, “Ugh. Not again.”
pt on May 14, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I hope he runs, I would have voted for him for president without hesitating, so Gov’s a no-brainer. The thought of another Gov. Cuomo gives me chills.
Besides, I still remember how NYC used to be before he turned it around. Go Rudy!
DrAllecon on May 14, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Not a Rudy-for-Prez guy, but I fail to see how repeating over and over again that Fred was the true conservative actually makes him, the, er, true conservative. Didn’t really hear a lot from him. Oh, and who’s wife works for the RNC – not that that means their RINOs or anything.
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Rudy’s OK–even more than OK. He doesn’t hate America or most Americans, and doesn’t think his calling in life is to remake America(that’s my new metric for a qualified candidate.) Not to dredge up an old argument, cause it really doesn’t matter now, but calling him a solid conservative is more than a stretch.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Which goes to shows that Hispanics will support a good republican candidate over a bad democrat candidate anytime. Rudy was a good mayor, he basically rescued NYC from itself. But, as a black hispanic it pains me to see how african american voters will support even a real lousy candidate no matter what. Dr. King fought and died for black rights, and I don’t think that this is what he had in mind, having the black community vote automatically for a bad black candidate, regarless of the merit of his/her rival…
This is sad…
ujorge on May 14, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I liked Fred, too, I just wish he wanted the job a little more.
Besides, it seemed like one minute there were people I liked like Rudy and Fred in the running, and the next minute I was looking at McCain as the last man standing shaking my head and saying “what the hell happened?”
DrAllecon on May 14, 2009 at 12:11 PM
eh…whatever. I say screw new york. They don’t deserve a person like rudy. they didn’t the first time and they don’t now.
They DO deserve (by their picks of leaders) EVERYTHING that comes their way. Be it economic (unemployment, business leaving, forclosures etc) or otherwise…
They should not be complaining about it when they are dealt tough cards.
Quite frankly…I just don’t care anymore.
As with California…they made their beds…now BURN in it.
Handel on May 14, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Rudy was done before Ohio voted, so I didn’t get to vote for him. Fred too, for that matter. But I’m pretty sure I am a social conservative. Also pretty sure I am not a sucker even though I do own a ShamWow and a GT XPress 101.
myrenovations on May 14, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Yeah, cause every election in NY is won by unanimous votes.
It ain’t easy being a red dot in a blue state, and it doesn’t make it any easier hearing crap like this either.
DrAllecon on May 14, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I’d enjoy a Rudy run, hopefully he could reverse alot of the stupidity that Albany is churning out. But he’s got to build the party beneath him.
And once he’s in he’s got to defund the public sector unions. They’re killing us.
Cuomo was in charge of HUD under Bubba. So he had a hand in the financial meltdown. So far he’s been able to hide this, but if we hopefully get a nasty primary maybe Paterson will bring it up. Personally I’d love to see Operation Chaos 3: Willfully Blind.
Iblis on May 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Rudy is a liberal who is afraid to admit it. He reduced crimes in NYC by bring some of the toughest gun laws known to man.
nice343 on May 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
know to man???
right2bright on May 14, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I would only add to this the probability of High-income New Yorkers wanting to remain living and working there.
It gets tiring watching your friends & colleagues all move to North Carolina.
bluelightbrigade on May 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM
So you must like him, right?
myrenovations on May 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Rudy would have been a great president. He would hands down defeat Obama.
Anyway, he should run in NY. The state desperately needs him.
jencab on May 14, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Liberals passing tough laws? I think you mean Lefties…
Upstater85 on May 14, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Do it. DO IT NOW.
TheUnrepentantGeek on May 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I cannot comment on NYC, but here at the other end of the 90, Hope-n-Change is very much alive and well.
artlover on May 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Second worst. Fred Thompson ran the worst – between them it’s enough to make a grown man cry, almost. Can you imagine if either of them had a competent campaign, and the other was picked for veep? Instead we got Present Obama and the Joker.
Blacksmith on May 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
(I liked Fred, too, I just wish he wanted the job a little more.
Ain’t THAT the truth!)
tree hugging sister on May 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
This guy is one of the greatest public servants of my lifetime. I have to admit my heart went out of the presidential race when he had such a crappy showing.
blue13326 on May 14, 2009 at 12:51 PM
If he’s gonna do it, he’d better do it now. We’re not gonna wait around forever while he primps. Besides, he’s marginal in the conservative cred department. We may find someone we like better if this goes too long.
Mr. Grump on May 14, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Mr. Grump on May 14, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Isn’t the hesitation based on staying out of the race until the Dems commit to the easily beatable Patterson? Declare too early and Dems force Patterson out for Cuomo? Before these new numbers, Cuomo was a tougher fight.
myrenovations on May 14, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Can’t have Rudy. He is a baby killer.
Chekote on May 14, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Well, SOMEONE has to say it: Rudy’s going to campaign for Governor of NY in Florida.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 14, 2009 at 1:17 PM
I think Rudy would be a fine governor for New York. He’s perfect for New York. He’s what New York needs. He’s not what the country needs (for president), but for New York, he’s great.
I think it would be a good thing for him to run for governor of NY.
ThackerAgency on May 14, 2009 at 1:21 PM
What’s happened? The people of New York are watching a fiscal train wreck in Albany with Paterson as head conductor. Does anyone really think Andrew Cuomo is the guy to come in a fix a budget with a $25 billion deficit? What has he ever done to qualify him to be Governor when this is what people are most concerned about? But everyone remembers Rudy as the Mayor who finally got control of the budget in New York City, CUT taxes, CUT welfare rolls, and revived the city’s economy.
If Republicans can stop freaking out about abortion and focus on the public’s growing demand for fiscal sanity, we can win this Governorship, as well as Pennsylvania’s next year.
rockmom on May 14, 2009 at 1:32 PM
I think he could win, and probably could make dramatic improvements in Albany. As to President, he just had too many negatives. Troubling personal/marital issues, tried to play the game too intellectually by waiting for states he had the best shot in rather than running hard early, and tried to make the Mayor-POTUS leap. Has anybody ever taken that path successfully?
Governor would be a good step for him and the state.
cs89 on May 14, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Love Rudy! He saved NYC. Too bad he didn’t fare well in the Presidential Election. He would’ve debated circles around the Obamaprompta.
Not a bad consolation prize if he wins and saves NY State.
kcluva on May 14, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Actually, Rudy used tough gun laws to crack down on street crime. If he could make the crime about guns, the liberals would leave the little gangbangers to rot in jail.
Sekhmet on May 14, 2009 at 2:01 PM
The folks in NY have seen the true face of the Democratic Machine, and they are revolted. And some are revolting. Getting Giuliani in the statehouse will be very good. Getting more GOP into the legislature will be even better.
Rudy represents the socially liberal part of the GOP. He’s not the heart of the party (although his head is very, very welcome). He’s the Republican who can win in the third bluest state. He represents integrity and competence above all. He’s not unstained; his marital life would never pass muster in the Deep Red. But it humanizes him in the Blue. He can’t really be on the Right, they say, he’s got baggage the Right will never accept. He’s one of us at heart … but we’re too corrupt for him. He has to stand outside Our Machine. And We-The-Blue can vote for the stained-but-not-rotten Caliph of Competence, Rudy-one-of-us.
njcommuter on May 14, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Rudy would be a very strong candidate for NY Gov. Remember, he managed to win election in NYC of all places. If he manages to get a good chunk of his NYC vote, he’ll clobber any Dem. In Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Nassau,Suffolk counties, and the outer boroughs of NYC(commuterland), he’s far more popular than he is in Manhattan.
A lot of people in the NY metro area still remember what the city was like under Beam/Koch/Dinkins etc. In 8 years, Giuliani took Times Square from being a land of porn shops and drug dealers and turned it into a family friendly tourist trap. New York has one of the lowest crime rates of any metro area, thanks to Giuliani.
No, he’s not very conservative, at least on social policy. But he isn’t Arlen Specter, either.
john bono on May 14, 2009 at 2:09 PM
you’re all missing the REAL story in this post and that is:
RED LASSO RETURNS TO HOT AIR!!!
=)
Drunk Report on May 14, 2009 at 2:21 PM
So true. Americans have nothing but goodwill towards Wall Street at the moment. Wall Street CEOs may be among the most popular people in the country.
Going after Wall Street is like declaring war on puppies. Just a bad political strategy.
YYZ on May 14, 2009 at 2:29 PM
As I said, I support Rudy in a leadership role – especially good for NY governor. However, he can’t really take credit for leading during the time of the greatest economic expansion in history. I hate when Bill Clinton does the same thing (budget surplus). They were fortunate to have overflowing coffers.
Again, kudos for not spending it all. . . but you can’t give him credit for the amount of money Microsoft added to New York and the USA.
ThackerAgency on May 14, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Paterson is just plain incompetent, no factor. Cuomo has no executive credentials outside of being related to someone who did and he’s also pissed off way too many important voters who may just move to another city. Rudy is perfect for NY. One step at a time. His social leanings make me a little sick, but otherwise, he’s great. I know he won’t be taxing fat people for breathing or little kids for drinking regular coke. He’s the NY cure for the (very) common liberal cold.
HomeoftheBrave on May 14, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Better get a fiscal conservative in NY soon, or they will be like CA and MD, exporting their successful people to other states. Oh wait, they already do!
Christian Conservative on May 14, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Go Rudy! You were the best evah Mayor of New York and you would make a superb Governor.
Buy Danish on May 14, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Low-flying jets in New York City would probably help Rudy in the polls…
hawksruleva on May 14, 2009 at 3:11 PM
We need these “would be Presidents” to run for offices they can win. Rudy, Mitt, Jeb, Huck, etc should be running for governor or Senator and help the Republicans win back control.
huckleberryfriend on May 14, 2009 at 3:20 PM
In NYC, residents remember how empty and dead downtown was and how it killed the economy after 911. It still isn’t the same as businesses keep moving to CT for lower taxes and to just stay out of the terrorists’ line of fire.
The entire state knows how vital Wall St. is to the state’s overall fiscal health, and they do not want to see finance run as competently as Amtrack or the post office. The rest of our nation of complainers can hate Wall St. as much as they hated Walmart a few years ago, but NY knows on which side their bread is buttered. No one wants that money to go.
chunderroad on May 14, 2009 at 3:37 PM
The rest of that line-up could take a page out of Rudy’s book and just shut up if they have nothing helpful to add. The sad and shameless jockeying for a far-off 2012 is just unbecoming and nonconstructive. Rudy can always show up on a panel and keep his guns trained on the opposition. He’s great like that.
chunderroad on May 14, 2009 at 3:41 PM
He`s got my vote.
ThePrez on May 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM
New York elects Republicans when Democrats control all levers of power at the city, state and national level, and there’s no longer anyone else to blame for whatever the debacle-of-the-month is. That goes all the way back to LaGuardia winning the NYC mayoral race after the Seabury hearings on Tammany corruption in 1933, followed later by Dewey winning the governor’s race. The Giuliani/Pataki daily double from 1993-94 was New York’s reaction to Clinton being in the White House and the Democrats controlling Congress, just the way the people reacted to local corruption by Democrats while FDR was in Washington.
Liberals have way more of their hearts invested in Obama than they did in Clinton (they sided with him in ‘92 mainly because Hillary was vouching for his liberalism) and Bloomberg isn’t stirring any anger among the Ds (except along a few racial lines) because they know he’s not much of an R. So with both Senate seats and the governor’s race up in 2010, NYS Democrats may be a little more concerned about protecting their guy in the White House. But if things keep falling apart, they may just be content to give Chuckie Schumer another six years and say to hell with the other two races.
jon1979 on May 14, 2009 at 4:32 PM
At least Rudy would have forced the Obamessiah to campaign in New York. Might have saved North Carolina and Virginia.
Speedwagon82 on May 14, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Giuliani would have whooped Obama. He had my support all the way through Florida – but what a horrible campaign strategy he ran. Ugh.
As a New York native… I have to say that Rudy as Governor would be awesome.
Red Cloud on May 15, 2009 at 2:52 AM
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