Not surprisingly, Giuliani wears flag pin
Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 6:25 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Republicans
From NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy and Domenico Montanaro
First Read was on a casual lapel-pin watch today at the Americans for Prosperity’s “Defending the American Dream.” And of the five GOP presidential candidates who spoke at this morning’s general session, not surprisingly, Giuliani was the only one wearing an American flag lapel pin. Giuliani, after all, has based much of his campaign on 9/11.
Huckabee addressed his decision not to wear a flag pin -- something that Obama has been forced to address in recent days -- at a press conference following his speech.
“I think what a person wears, his adornment, is not a reason to vote or not vote for a person for president,” Huckabee said. He also gave some advice to social conservatives and their effort to remain an important voting bloc with a less-than-desirable candidate leading in the polls.
“If the social conservatives don’t stick to the issues that give them leverage,” Huckabee said, “they’re going to be marginalized completely out of the political process. They have to stick to the issues that bring their constituency together and animate and energize them.”
Along with being alone in his choice of “adornment,” Giuliani was also the only candidate allowed to speak for more than 20 minutes, roughly 24 minutes to be precise. Thompson, who was the only one to bring his wife on stage, spoke for 18 minutes. As previously noted on First Read, Ron Paul was pushed off the stage with exit music after speaking for 12 minutes, while Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee were each afforded roughly 8 minutes.
Thompson, who’s presence at the summit was probably the most anticipated by the press, had scheduled a press conference in the press room after his speech, but due to problems with his “schedule,” he had to cancel. This is not the first time Thompson has ditched the press after his campaign promised to take questions. He did it in Iowa last week and drew the ire of local reporters. Now, he’s done it on a national level as well.
Instead, immediately following his speech, Thompson went to address the AFP’s Virginia delegation. Virginia’s Attorney General Robert McDonnell introduced Thompson to the group of Virginians, emphasizing that Thompson is a resident of McLean, Va. This line was popular amongst the Virginians, but something the Thompson campaign has tried to downplay in portraying Thompson as a southerner in hopes of winning big in the south’s early primary states.
