[Politics] Is Rudy Electable?

It's kind of a drag for the GOP. The leading candidate to win the 2008 presidential election from both parties, Republican Rudy Giuliani, aka "America's Mayor," is finally seeing a host of personal issues catching up to him as he attempts to ride his 9/11 fame to the White House. The New York Post reports.

What's interesting about Rudy Giuliani is that so many people outside of New York City seem to love him without really knowing why. This is particular true for American conservatives, who may be finally discovering t that behind all of the heroic glorification of his 9/11 mayorship, there is little about him that make him a truly electable Republican nominee. And that the Democratic attack dogs are being sedated as Giuliani demonstrates leads and gains in the race, should serve as a warning that he may actually be one of the easiest Republican candidates to defeat in a general election.

The fact is, the only thing that makes Giuliani electable, or even qualified, in the minds of most of his suporters, is 9/11. And while I think he did a rather commendable job handling the situation and showing leadership on that day, it does not make him immediately qualified to be president. And yet because of 9/11 he receives unquestioning support and heroic ovations as he tours the country. For New Yorkers, who have become disillusioned by Giuliani's use of 9/11 to vault his national image, there is a strange confusion about why America really loves this guy so much. And why, if the election were held today, he would be the next president.

The abortion issue is interesting because, like his opponent Mitt Romney, he was elected in a liberal area in part because he maintained a pro-choice stance. Now, Giuliani is trying to nuance his pro-choice belief by saying that as president he would nominate strict constructionists to the Supreme Court, which is considered code for pro-lifers. For an electorate that largely bought into the flip-flop attacks on John Kerry in 2004, it seems nearly impossible that a GOP candidate could more effectively flip their position for political gain.

But strangely, I still feel like most of America does not know that about Giuliani. Most of America is also probably not aware that Giuliani has supported gun control throughout his entire career. Can the GOP elect a gun control supporter? That too seems highly unlikely.

And now let's consider the personal issues that are finally catching up with Giuliani in what could very well be a highly-effective whisper campaign. Giuliani, for one, has been married three times. He had an affair during his previous marriage, and while he and his wife were splitting Giuliani stayed at the home of two friends: a gay couple. All of this, plus his several appearances in drag, are sure to make many middle Americans cringe. It begs the question, what will the GOP do for 2008?

The irony is that while Giulini is a conservative hero, he would probably have an easier time getting elected if he were still a Democrat, a tax-cutting Democrat. Giuliani says he became a Republican because of their tax policy. That's fair, but as much as America likes tax breaks, moral and lifestyle issues play a bigger role in presidential campaigns. And beyond even that, the Republican party is quickly losing its reputation for fiscal conservatism, despite those tax breaks. As a Republican though, Giuliani's beliefs make him look inconsistent at best, with those inconsistencies making a joke out of the Republican party if they are not careful.

I'll tell you this much, if the GOP ends up with Giuliani as its candidate in 2008, the Democrats will be making that joke. Right now they are sitting idly by just waiting to deliver the punchline.