Friday, February 23, 2007

Giuliani: All Talk And No Walk

Despite the 'America's Mayor' theme being trumpted by the candidate and the press for several years, it seems this character might not be ready for primetime. The last few campaign stops have been in very friendly territory with useful backdrops such as firehouses. The questions hurled at him sound more like a fan club interview rather than a chance to test a Presidential candidate.

From The NY Times:

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Feb. 21 — In a swing through South Carolina this week, Rudolph W. Giuliani chose to campaign at a fire house, which is a little like Derek Jeter meeting with Yankees fans — a most unlikely forum for hostility, or even much skepticism.

Instead of the sometimes barbed give-and-take endured by the other candidates, Mr. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, fielded a few questions from the firefighters and police officers who gathered to hear him here. The questions, which began with comments like, “Being in your presence here is just unbelievable,” stuck almost entirely to issues on which Mr. Giuliani is most comfortable, like airport security and border control.

More than the other major presidential candidates, Mr. Giuliani has limited himself to events with narrowly defined, friendly audiences, avoiding the kind of uncomfortable interrogations his rivals have occasionally faced. Aside from a couple of brief swings through diners, including one yesterday in Delray Beach, Fla., he has done little of the politicking that exposes candidates to random sets of people — at shopping malls or train stations — who might be of any political stripe, and can raise any issue.

Rudy might be afraid of what those questions entail. Perhaps someone might ask him about his failed marriages and that girlfriend on the side. Maybe someone will bring up the fact that he was one of the most divisive mayors New York City had ever seen. There's a chance someone might bring up that video of him in drag while Donald Trump comes on to him. The voters that he needs to win in the Republican party care about these issues and Giuliani is scared to face them.

Even Hillary took on unfriendly audiences as she tours the country concerning her stance on the war. Democratic voters care deeply about Iraq (as do many others regardless of party affiliation) and to her credit she was there to at least face them, even if she did spin her answer. In fact all of the major candidates have held rallies that were open to everyone with a wide assortment of views and possible questions about issues.

Mr. America's Mayor may lead in a few polls at the moment, but it is all about the past. Voters are going to get to know him and it is up to him on how he is going to address issues and concerns. If he hides in firehouses and police stations with a carefully selected audience, very few people will get to hear what he has to say and more about him from his rivals from the right and the left.