Rudy Giuliani, with the chairman of his Florida campaign, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, left. Giuliani said it was "politically correct'' to focus on Florida. Photo by Mark Silva
By Mark Silva
BOCA RATON, Fla.– Rudy Giuliani, facing the press near the end of a Florida campaign that could make or break his bid for the presidency, was asked today if he had made a mistake in banking so heavily on Florida.
“I think it was politically correct to focus on Florida,’’ Giuliani said. “When you consider all the circumstances that were presented to us… no, I don’t think it was a mistake.’’
Asked if he would carry on his campaign, if he were to lose Florida’s Republican primary on Tuesday, the former mayor of New York said: “I am going to continue my campaign. I have no intention of ending my campaign… I have no reason not to anticipate winning…
“We are very competitive… In an election as fluid as this, I think we’ve got a very good chance.’’
The newest poll today, however, shows that Mitt Romney and John McCain are running a neck-and-neck race in the Florida primary – with 30 percent of Republicans surveyed supporting Romney and 26 percent McCain in a survey taken by Mason-Dixon Opinion Research. Giuliani, who once was the apparent frontrunner in Florida, drew 18 percent.
Before climbing into the passenger seat of a black Cadillac Escalade SUV en route to the scene of tonight’s debate at the palm-lined, sun-splashed campus of Florida Atlantic University, where the Swamp is now seated, Giuliani was asked if tonight’s debate – airing at 9 pm EST on MSNBC – will provide his “last chance’’ to claim a Florida victory.
“No, a debate is never the last chance,’’ he said. “The last chance is on Monday to turn it around… The debate is important, but the whole campaign is the thing that turns it around…getting your message out.’’
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Comments
Rudy who?
Angry Old Man McCain should be a big hit in Florida, he's older and more shrivled up than most of the retiree's down there.
Mug for the camera, old man!!!
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi170.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu271%2Fsteelerfanatic_album%2FJohn-McCain.jpg&searchTerm=john%20mccain&pageOffset=0
Posted by: John E | January 24, 2008 3:05 PM
Banking on Baghdad was no 'mistake' either.
Yea right!
Posted by: Bill Hick's ghost | January 24, 2008 3:08 PM
Sending a message to smaller state voters that only the big states with lots of former New Yorkers living in them matter, yes, that wasn't a mistake at all.
Posted by: Jeff | January 24, 2008 3:30 PM
Check out this campaign ad that our very own college Republican, Bill/Jeff, did for his hero, old man McCain:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x41zpf_abigails-xrated-teen-diary-mccain-p_fun
When was the last time you shaved, Jeff?
Posted by: John E | January 24, 2008 3:37 PM
Maybe he's so optamistic because he hired Choicepoint.
Posted by: RomanB | January 24, 2008 3:42 PM
FLORIDA IS RUDY COUNTRY!!
McCain is like Bob Dole... without the youth or the charm!
Posted by: Miami Dave | January 24, 2008 4:36 PM
I think we need a Swamp betting pool on this one:
How many times will Rudy mention 9/11 during tonight's debate?
I say 12.
Posted by: Luke | January 24, 2008 4:58 PM
Best case scenario; Rudy wins Fla.
Better yet, Ron Paul.
Then Super Bloody Tuesday no clear winner.
Then, a brokered convention in Minnehaha!
Posted by: C.Morris | January 24, 2008 5:41 PM
Win or lose, Giuliani will always hold a special place in the hearts of Americans for the stalwart leadership he displayed in New York on and after 9-11. Can you imagine Hillary or Obama in the same situation? I can and it's not a pretty picture.
Posted by: Romero | January 24, 2008 6:25 PM
"How many times will Rudy mention 9/11 during tonight's debate?"
Somewhere between 9-11.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | January 24, 2008 11:55 PM
I have it TiVoed, I'll say 14 and get back to you after I've watched it tomorrow.
"I wasn't scared when I had cancer, I was a little scared during 9/11."
Posted by: Jeff | January 25, 2008 2:37 AM
Cuba - our only hope..
Posted by: MN independent | January 25, 2008 2:38 AM
Flashback: Giuliani to Arafat: "Take a hike!"
Source: http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/01/picture-is-worth-thousand-words.html
Posted by: Muslims Against Sharia | January 25, 2008 11:15 PM