Oh-eight (R): The GOP no-shows

Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:07 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Categories: Republicans, 2008

We've gotten some chatter from some GOP party leaders who were in attendance at last night's RNC fundraiser wondering why all the presidentials blew it off. One activist said if Romney had not stayed, it would have been a PR and "psychological" disaster. NBC/NJ's Erin McPike reports: In the same week that the GOP’s four first-tier presidential candidates tried to best each other with their Republican credentials, only Mitt Romney addressed the Republican National Committee’s “Presidential Trust” dinner at the National Building Museum Tuesday night.

RNC spokesman Dan Ronayne said the event was new for the party and called it “a chance for our donors to see all the candidates.” Those 710 donors, each of whom contributed at least $1,000, helped raise $5 million for the party. But the only two candidates they saw were Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said after the event, “Showing up is half the job. Gov. Romney was grateful for the opportunity to address all the Republican activists who are helping to build the party.”

Although Ronayne said that all of the party’s candidates were invited, the RNC’s program had included five, with Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John McCain slated to join Romney and Paul. Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella explained via e-mail after the event that Giuliani “was not originally scheduled to speak at the dinner” and added that “the RNC incorrectly advised it.” No warnings were issued concerning Thompson’s appearance, but he also failed to address the dinner crowd. After the event, a representative from Thompson’s campaign stated that as the schedule of the event changed, Thompson was happy to speak at the reception prior to the dinner instead.

The Washington Post looks at the scores of Bush '04 donors who are sitting on the sidelines. "For months, Republicans have worried about the lack of energy displayed by their loyalists and donors, especially when compared with the enthusiasm of Democrats. Polls consistently show Democrats to be far more excited about their candidates than Republicans are with theirs.”

Also of note, the New York Times looks at the differences between the GOP candidates on global warming. "It is a near-unanimous recognition among the leaders of the threat posed by global warming. Within that camp, however, sharp divisions are developing. Senator John McCain of Arizona is calling for capping gas emissions linked to warming and higher fuel economy standards. Others, including Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, are refraining from advocating such limits and are instead emphasizing a push toward clean coal and other alternative energy sources.”

GIUILIANI: Per NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann, if it weren't for the newsy change of date, the big news of the day would be that Rudy Giuliani will be campaigning in the state -- for one day only! -- for the first time since mid-August. Mitt Romney is also in the eastern part of the state for the first time since the Q3 rush.

Before he leaves for Iowa today, Giuliani receives his first endorsement from a sitting governor. Texas' ambitious Republican Gov. Rick Perry (can someone say short list?) will sign up with Giuliani just before the mayor speaks before a fairly friendly Club for Growth audience.

As for yesterday, Giuliani’s getting good reviews for his appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition. Jennifer Rubin notes, "the highlight of [Rudy's] speech was his recounting of his eviction of Yasser Arafat from Lincoln Center. With a jab at Mitt Romney, he remarked that he did not have time to ‘call the lawyers’ and see if on one hand he could stay, on the other he couldn’t or perhaps he could be moved to higher seating. Giuliani said bluntly: ‘I just made a decision. I am a leader.’” More: “This was the ‘A’ game from Giuliani -- funny, pugnacious and crystal clear about who the good and bad guys in the world are."

The New York Sun calls Giuliani the "emotional winner" at the Jewish forum. But Maureen Dowd wasn’t as impressed. Her op-ed of Giuliani’s appearance yesterday is “Rudy Roughs Up Arabs.”

Dowd also notes Giuliani saying this about Hillary Clinton’s experience: “‘Honestly, in most respects, I don’t know Hillary’s experience. She’s never run a city. She’s never run a state. She’s never run a business. She has never met a payroll. She has never been responsible for the safety and security of millions of people, much less even hundreds of people.’”

The Wall Street Journal has a smart piece noting that it's Giuliani's foreign policy stands that's allowing him to connect "with social and religious conservatives, constituencies where the former New York City mayor's support has been seen as weakest."

MCCAIN: He kept at it yesterday, citing his credibility on military issues and Iraq. “’You've got people running for President who haven't even been to it,’” McCain said of Iraq” per the New York Daily News.