Giuliani Makes Final Florida Push

Monday, January 28, 2008

(Sanford, Florida)



Bright and early this morning, the Rudy 2008 Campaign bus pulled into the Sanford-Orlando airport, about 45 minutes late. Was it a metaphor for the entire Giuliani campaign? We'll find out Tuesday.



Part of it may be that Giuliani virtually skipped Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina. He skipped Vegas too, choosing instead to roll all his dice in Florida, January 29th. Its a gamble. At best the latest polls show him a distant third in the Sunshine State.



To a small but cheering mob of about 150, Giuliani said, "I am the only one who has reduced taxes." You see, the issue has changed from his trademark of national security, to the economy, and Giuliani's poll numbers dropped liked the Dow Jones did, last week.



He spoke today, mostly of economic issues. Cutting takes, reduced government spending, boilerplate Republican stuff. He also called for increasing the military, and creating a National Catastrophe Fund to help states devastated by disaster. Hurricane prone Florida would like that, but is it enough to motivate people at the polls tomorrow?



Like many candidates, Giuliani brought celebrity help. Today it was Oscar winning actor, and New York City native Jon Voight. Recalling the 9-11 attacks, Voight said, "All the world was watching this guy and we were behind him as Americans."



Florida Attorney General and former Congressman Bill McCollum was here as well, praising Giuliani as a crime fighter. "He cleaned up the mob," said McCollum.



Gov. Rick Perry, (R-Texas) who succeeded George W. Bush, praised Giuliani for turning New York City around, saying he "took New York, to a jewel, from a cesspool." Several people from New York, in the large press pool, gasped when he said that. Loyal New Yorkers don't like outsiders ridiculing their city, no matter how bad it might have been.
There was one funny moment: when Giuliani promised to send the first American to Mars, someone in the crowd shouted, "Hillary!" too much laughter! It was the only light moment of the rally.


As Giuliani neared the end of his speech this morning he said, "In the past, I've done the impossible, or what people thought was impossible."



Tuesday in Florida, we'll see if he can do it again, or if the sun will set on his campaign.



I'll be covering Mitt Romney, John McCain and Mike Huckabee later today. Check back often for updates at www.markcurtismedia.blogspot.com.