Giuliani stays above fray - & rides high
Giuliani stays above fray - & rides high
BY DAVID SALTONSTALLDAILY NEWS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Sunday, June 17th 2007, 4:00 AM
As the front-runner in the Republican primary for President, Rudy Giuliani is supposed to be the biggest target in the race - he has certainly got his vulnerabilities.
But in a shift that underscores Giuliani's steady perch atop the GOP polls, Republican rivals John McCain and Mitt Romney are increasingly aiming their barbs at each other, not Giuliani, in what many see as a new race-within-the-race - the battle for second place.
"It looks like this primary will be between Rudy and someone," said Republican consultant Roger Stone, who is not working for any of the candidates. "And this race has become a fight over who that second someone will be."
BY DAVID SALTONSTALLDAILY NEWS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Sunday, June 17th 2007, 4:00 AM
As the front-runner in the Republican primary for President, Rudy Giuliani is supposed to be the biggest target in the race - he has certainly got his vulnerabilities.
But in a shift that underscores Giuliani's steady perch atop the GOP polls, Republican rivals John McCain and Mitt Romney are increasingly aiming their barbs at each other, not Giuliani, in what many see as a new race-within-the-race - the battle for second place.
"It looks like this primary will be between Rudy and someone," said Republican consultant Roger Stone, who is not working for any of the candidates. "And this race has become a fight over who that second someone will be."
The dynamic could not have been clearer last week. As Giuliani merrily announced a 12-point plan for America - while aiming all his jabs at Democrats - Romney and McCain were engaged in an increasingly bitter intra-party brawl.
It started when McCain reopened charges that Romney had flip-flopped on abortion, in part with a new, in-your-face letterhead that announced, "Mitt vs. Fact. Say. Do. Anything."
The packaging was a satirical punch at Romney's campaign logo of "Strong, New, Leadership," and Romney's camp hit back hard, saying the attacks were a "desperate" ploy by a "faltering" campaign.
The packaging was a satirical punch at Romney's campaign logo of "Strong, New, Leadership," and Romney's camp hit back hard, saying the attacks were a "desperate" ploy by a "faltering" campaign.
It was all music to the ears of Team Giuliani, which happily stayed above the fray, even though the former mayor's pro-choice views make him by far the most vulnerable on the topic among conservative voters.
"Right now there are two candidates fighting about abortion, and Rudy's not one of them," said a pleased Giuliani aide. "That's a good day for us."
Aides to Romney and McCain said they weren't aiming their barbs at Giuliani because they believe that sooner or later, his pro-choice, pro-gay rights views will catch up with him and send his poll numbers plummeting.
Aides to Romney and McCain said they weren't aiming their barbs at Giuliani because they believe that sooner or later, his pro-choice, pro-gay rights views will catch up with him and send his poll numbers plummeting.
Indeed, Giuliani's numbers already seem to be inching down in conservative primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, where he now runs second or third. But he remains firmly atop most polls.
Experts say Giuliani's ability to avoid the crossfire underscores how McCain and Romney - and now former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, it seems - are increasingly fighting for the same conservative wing of the GOP.
Experts say Giuliani's ability to avoid the crossfire underscores how McCain and Romney - and now former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, it seems - are increasingly fighting for the same conservative wing of the GOP.
Meanwhile, Giuliani is left to sweep up the 40% of Republican voters who consider themselves pro-choice, as well as others within the GOP drawn to his record as a fiscal conservative.
"He sustains no damage by floating above the fray," said Stone. "He just continues to build his image and say what he wants to say, while the others go at each other."
dsaltonstall@nydailynews.com
"He sustains no damage by floating above the fray," said Stone. "He just continues to build his image and say what he wants to say, while the others go at each other."
dsaltonstall@nydailynews.com
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