"Giuliani is becoming less and less of a factor here," Florida

[AlCzervik]

Romney climbs into Florida tie with McCain: poll
Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:49am EST
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Reuters) - Republican Mitt Romney climbed into a tie with John McCain three days before a critical presidential primary in Florida, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, wiped out a 3-point McCain advantage overnight to pull into a deadlock with the Arizona senator at 30 percent. The margin of error in the poll is 3.4 percentage points.

Romney enjoys big leads among Republican voters who describe themselves as conservative or very conservative, while McCain has an edge among Florida moderates ahead of Tuesday's primary.

They also were tied among most key demographic groups in the state. Romney held a slight edge among seniors, who make up more than a third of the sample in Florida, and among voters under 30.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee gained 4 points overnight to register 14 percent and move past former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who continued his downward slide by losing two points to 13 percent.

The rolling poll was taken before McCain won the endorsement of popular Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday. It also was before the issue of Iraq flared when McCain accused Romney of backing a set withdrawal of U.S. troops -- a charge Romney angrily denied.

Giuliani, the one-time leader in national polls whose standing has plummeted after he pulled out of the early voting states to focus on Florida, continued a slide that has cast doubt on the future of his campaign.

"Giuliani is becoming less and less of a factor here," Zogby said.

more at link
http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN2428418520080127

[ursi]

1. why doesn't this guy give it up and bloviate somewhere else?

[AlCzervik]

2. maybe after Tuesday thats exactly what he'll be doing.

[saltpoint]

3. This is the kind of talk I like to hear.

I'm sorry but I don't care one iota if Times Square was "cleaned up." I lived in NYC some years ago when it wasn't "cleaned up" and didn't like it any less than I like it post-Giuliani.

I'm sorry but I don't consider those windshield washing guys to be a very important concern and I'll be damned if I'll give Giuliani any credit for "ridding the streets" of them.

I'm sorry but a candidate whose children publicly condemn him doesn't inspire much warmth and confidence in me as a voter.

I'm sorry but as piss-poor as his competition is, he lost one of the most formidable percentage leads in modern American political history, and deservedly so.

I'm sorry but I think the man is a racist thug.

After 8 years of vehement opposition to the Bush war effort, I'm sorry but the very last thing we need is one more second of the same, let alone a hyper-extended commitment to the war.

Plus, his wife tortures dogs.

[AlCzervik]

4. i have really enjoyed watching him lose, it must be like a thunderbolt for him

a total recalibration of what he must think of himself.

[saltpoint]

5. chimpsrsmarter, that is a very surgical read into the man, IMO. Excellent

observation.

He likely is a guy used to getting his own way. He has the willfulness of the prosecutor he used to be but none of the grace and temperate judgment of a really evolved public servant. Far from it, in fact.

[hisownpetard]

6. Rudy's cruisin' for a bruisin' and he ain't quite used to losin'...

I am totally enjoying the very public humiliation of this man who set himself up as a false god,
a failed government official who tried to use tombstones as political stepping stones for his own benefit.
Disgusting!

[saltpoint]

9. You use the word 'disgusting' and 'disgusting' is exactly right.

Ditto "false god."

I personally don't like being manipulated by thugs over national security. To me, that's what Rudy did. He became a one trick pony with more pony by-product than pony.

[saltpoint]

7. Huckabee has kind of dropped off the national radar, at least in the

media circus.

He was going great guns after Iowa and then it cooled down real fast.

If he slips ahead of Rudy in Florida, the only question is whether Rudy will withdraw Tuesday night at 10:30 eastern or 10:45 eastern.

[AlCzervik]

8. hehe.

10:42pm :D

[saltpoint]

10. LOL! Works for me, as long as he's out the damn door!

[saltpoint]

11. Does anybody know where the Giuliani "victory party" will be held Tuesday

night?

That is, the Giuliani wake!

Honestly -- where is he expected to address his supporters?

[hisownpetard]

12. Frank Campbell Funeral Home?

[saltpoint]

13. LOL! Set and setting are everything!

[peaches2003]

14. May do a little better than expected

because FL allows 'early voting' and a big % of people had already voted before Rudy's slide really began. Those possible pro-Rudy votes have already been cast. Without those I think he had 4th place sewed up.

[Seabiscuit]

15. Am I allowed a crocodile tear or two?

:cry:

[tishaLA]

16. he's just taking a month-long FL sojourn now

like so many snow birds from the NE.

[inthebrain]

17. Yeah, polls are valuable

Remember New Hampshire?

I wouldn't mind if Rudy took Florida. That makes it a four way race and these fuckers will be broke come November.

[Eurobabe]

18. The GHOUL will drop after Super Tuesday

when he gets his ass brutally kicked.