Giuliani Embraces Underdog Tag, Urges Supporters to Ignore ‘Experts’
SARASOTA, Fla. — As he makes his final 72-hour push ahead of Florida’s Tuesday primary, Rudy Giuliani is embracing his underdog status, asking voters to ignore the “experts” and the latest polls showing a slide in the Sunshine State.
The former New York mayor, once the unquestioned national frontrunner, has in polls slipped to third in Florida, a state he’s banking on to revive his campaign after bypassing the high-profile contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
“Don’t listen to any of the cynics. Don’t listen to any of the experts. You’re the experts. The person who goes to the polling place and marks down the ballot, marks down the vote. That’s the expert,” Giuliani told about 200 people at a meet and greet at the Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota. “I like feeling like I am an underdog. I think underdogs get a lot of sympathy, get a lot of support, get a lot of interest.”
In recent days, his campaign surrogates have also been railing against the media and pundits for their “pessimism.” Prior to Giuliani’s speech at Sarasota’s Lincoln Day Dinner Friday night, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and former Congressman Bill Paxon urged the more than 500 in attendance to ignore the latest polling.
The Giuliani campaign’s war on polls is a recent development, especially after months of citing national and state surveys as evidence of his support. During interviews over the last couple months, Giuliani often cited his polling leads in most Feb. 5 states when questioned about ignoring the early primary states.
The same is true for his aides.
In an Oct. 2 memo that broke down all of Giuliani’s polling advantages, campaign strategist Brent Seaborn led off by noting that “Mayor Giuliani continues to lead all major media polls.”
He also touted, “as this race enters the home stretch, Mayor Giuliani continues lead every national poll while no single opponent has emerged to threaten his frontrunner status.”
While Seaborn later warned of “tightening,” Giuliani now trails in almost all of the delegate-rich Feb. 5 states the campaign was courting.
Click to read more about Giuliani and watch him rally supporters in Florida.
FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
People have mistakenly seen McCain as a veteran only, instead of an insider WDC politician over the last 25 yrs. Does anyone remember The Keating 5? What about allowing those enemies in Guantanamo whom he wants to try in our civil courts!! Waterboarding too rough if your loved one’s life depends on it!! Amnesty too! If all Liberal Newspapers, including the NYTimes endorse him, you know he will be easy bait for the Dems to win. Gee, people do some research and some homework!! It is easier with the internet!!!
We need fresh ideas with results like Rudy did in NYC and what Romney in the Olympics! It is very sad how people do forget 911 and WHO stood up to our enemies on a daily basis to restore the capital of the world and be so right as to the pressing issue of the century with Rudy at the forefront. Without safe borders and a strong defense, we cannot do what we need to be energy independent, with a solid education and upgrade our healthcare programs. Let alone being fiscally responsible.
Super Tuesday is next week and it is not over ;–)
People have mistakenly seen McCain as a veteran only, instead of an insider Career WDC politician over the last 25 yrs. Does anyone remember The Keating 5? What about allowing those enemies in Guantanamo whom he wants to try in our civil courts!! Waterboarding too rough if your loved one’s life depends on it!! Amnesty too! If all Liberal Newspapers, including the NYTimes endorse him, you know he will be easy bait for the Dems to win. Gee, people do some research and some homework!! It is easier with the internet!!!
We need fresh ideas with results like Rudy did in NYC and what Romney in the Olympics! It is incredible how people forget 911 and all the lives we lost and WHO stood up to our enemies.
Super Tuesday is next week and it is not over ;–)
I’ve been watching Rudy’s career for many years now. And after what he did for NYC and his handling of 9/11 there is no doubt that he is the only candidate who is qualified to be the next President of this Country.
He clearly has the education, leadership skills, experience and the tenacity to bring real change in the Country to fruition. And with his expertise in terrisorism he will do his utmost to keep the US safe.
Now correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t remember what, if anything, Billary or Obama said about anything of these topics.
Talking about change is one thing. Actually having a planned strategy is quite another…. It seems to me that these two will say anything to get elected.
Don’t count Rudy out. He will come back to win the nomination and Presidency.
God Bless Rudy!!
rudy just finished, what former mayor Dinkins started in nyc//.
As a native New Yorker, I can only tell you what Rudy did for this City. He turned a filthy crime ridden Times Square into the fantastic place it used to be.
He cleaned up the subways, and made the streets of NY safe to walk again.
We owe a Lot to Rudy. He would make a Great President.
Rudy is “Presidential” - Remember 9/11? He was the only face we saw for many hours afterwards - George was in Hiding while Rudy made the masses feel at ease - He has been tested and his fiscal leadership in NYC is on record - He’s the best person for the Job - Don’t let the media choose your candidate for you !
Don’t vote for Rudy McRomnabee. Vote for Ron Paul!! The others are one in the same - all warmongering, deficit-spending, empire-building neocons who will drive us into financial ruin. We are spending a trillion dollars a year on the Iraq war, along with causing untold suffering. Our country is 9.2 trillion dollars in debt, an amount which has to be paid back and which amounts to over $400K for every American household. None of the candidates (except for Ron Paul) is worried about any of this!!! Ron Paul is an honest conservative sounding the alarm and telling us the truth. He has a real plan to turn this country around by doing something “fringe” and “radical” –that is, following our U.S. Constituttion. He believes in protecting liberty, keeping a strong national defense and securing our borders, and enacting monetary reform to stabilize our economy. He is a 10-term congressman from Texas with nationwide grassroots support. Check out his powerful message of truth and liberty at RonPaul2008.com. Join the Ron Paul Revolution and vote for Ron Paul to bring about REAL change in our country!
Click at the 2 papers put forth by the clubfor growth and see what Rudy was able to do, compared to McCain and the rest! Enjoy.
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/05/rudy_giulianis_economic_record.php
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/03/arizona_senator_john_mccains_t.php
The best thing that ever happen to Guliani is 9/11. Think about it.