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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Florida, Florida, Florida, Part II

Posted: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:13 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger
WOLFEBORO, NH -- Giuliani has made Florida the core of his nomination strategy. And once the New Hampshire primaries are over, he will essentially take up residency there.

Aides said Wednesday that Giuliani will be focusing almost exclusively on Florida for the next three weeks, heading there on Jan. 9, the day after the New Hampshire primary. He will make day trips to South Carolina and Michigan (as well as Texas for fundraising) during those weeks, but will mostly be criss-crossing the Sunshine State until the Jan. 29 primary -- with California a major destination thereafter. The campaign is currently considering finding a base hotel for the next few weeks, and there will likely be bus tours.

Giuliani has rarely stayed in one state for more than a few days, and planned campaign events around fund-raising trips. He has frequented Feb. 5 states like Missouri and Illinois more than most other candidates, and has been a frequent Sunshine State visitor as well.

But the news is definitely in keeping with Giuliani’s electoral strategy, which is heavily reliant on Florida. His numbers in the state have fallen, though he maintains a lead. And the campaign is hoping a strong showing will bounce them back into the national dialogue and perhaps the national lead.

To highlight the strategy, Giuliani will travel to the Miami area tomorrow night, and will be on television from there on caucus night. He will spend the rest of the week, through Tuesday, in New Hampshire.

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I have a question.  I have learned that politics relies a great deal on perception.  If Giuliani spends money and time there that other candidates don't, doesn't that cheapen his potential victory there?
Giuliani has made Florida the core of his retirement plan!  With home prices falling, he hopes to make a steal . . . (a.k.a. Bernie Kerik)
LAST WEEK HUCKABEE WAS LEADING IN FLORIDA.
Has Dade county installed the new Fisher/Price voting machines with the tickle me Elmo tutorial guide and colorful buttons yet. If not, there will be more confusion down there. No matter how much time Rudy spends there.
Chads for Rudy!
Vote for Dr. Ron Paul!

We don't want Guiliani in Florida at all.
He is mistaken!  don't think he should plan on moving here.
let's here more about Ron Paul.
Mitt Romney Flip Flopping on Abortion watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks&feature=related

Do you really want a scum bag like this.
A photograph of GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney at a 1994 Planned Parenthood fund-raiser has surfaced, once again raising questions about the former Bay State’s governor’s abortion flip-flopping.

The picture, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald, shows Romney and his wife Ann at a house party fund-raiser in Scituate with Nicki Nichols Gamble, who was the president of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts at the time. Romney has already downplayed ties to Planned Parenthood after revelations that Ann Romney donated $150 to the group.

Gamble said the pic was snapped at an event at GOP activist Eleanor Bleakie’s house and that she “clearly” remembered speaking with Romney at the event. At the time, Romney was running as a pro-choice Republican against U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

“My recollection is that we talked about his senate candidacy and the fact that he was supporting Roe v. Wade and a choice agenda at the time,” Gamble told the Herald. “It was a Planned Parenthood event. We were there to discuss our programs and our advocacy.”

The event was held the same day Ann Romney wrote a check to the pro-choice group. Romney has previously said he had “no recollection” of his wife writing the check to Planned Parenthood.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom called the flap “a dog bites man story.”

“Governor Romney used to have a different position on abortion,” Fehrnstrom said. “He is now firmly pro-life and has made it clear that as President he will advocate for a culture that welcomes life and protects the sanctity of life. This is the same path that Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush followed.”

Because of his abortion shift, Romney has been branded a flip-flopper by his GOP primary opponents, as well Democrats. Romney has stated he became pro-life in 2004 during the stem cell debate in Massachusetts.

Beyond attending the event, Romney filled out a 2002 questionnaire for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund in which he said he supported Roe v. Wade, sex education in schools and increased access to emergency contraception.

“With Mitt Romney, this has been more than a flip-flop. This has been an extreme makeover,” said Planned Parenthood spokesman Angus McQuilken. “What voters need to know about Mitt Romney is this: where he stands on any issue is always a moving target.”

Romney reacts to photo:
+ Romney dismisses photo suggesting he attended Planned Parenthood event
dwedge@bostonherald.com
Will rudy take the rush clone Hannity to FL with him?Hannity has been introducing him at campaign rallies and I figure rudy has promised him a seat on his cabinet,at least.Wonder if all those machines have had their chips set to vote for rudy?
So, Rudy chooses to emphasize a state whose primary, in terms of actual delegates to the respective national nominating conventions, counts for only half (or nothing in the case of the Democrats)?  Taking the path of least resistance, seizing on politically impotent votes until his VP role is realized!
Rudy is like so totally over.  It's all about Ron Paul!  He's dreamy!  Rudy might as well skip California like he skipped Iowa.  We Californians are all about peace and love and recycling and stuff.  Rudy is way too violent for us with all of his terror threats, while Dr. Paul delivers cute little babies.  Who could be against babies?
Ann, or who ever you are, you are a complete idiot.  All you do is copy and paste the same crap on every blog.  You have no brain and no clue about Romney.  As a life long pro-lifer I'm just glad that Mitt is on our side, the man is amazing.  If you can't see that, your either blind, a bigot, or, as I said, a complete idiot.  I'm guessing the answer is D, all of the above.

Go Mitt!    
SEAN HANNITY HAS TURNED INTO A CLOWN ALONG WITH O REILLY, WHAT HAPPENED TO FAIR AND BALANCED.  THEY ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION AND THATS BS AND THEIR VIEWERS ARENT BUYING IT.  GUILLANI IS A LAZY IDIOT.  HUCKABEE IS GOING TO EMBARASS THEM.
If Giuliani can't beat Ron Paul in Iowa and maybe New Hampshire and also South Carolina, why does he think anyone in Florida is going to take his candidacy serious.  Wasn't his main argument that he could beat Hillary?  How do you beat Hillary when  you can't beat Ron Paul?
HMT, you sound more than a little paranoid. Take your meds dude. I am going to pass up going negative on the chips comment cause I am feeling bad for cracking on the issue earlier. I am not even going to pull a Huckabee and tell you what I would have said. I would but I can't seem to get a press conference. It sucks not to have connections.
Help me: I just can't warm up to this guy.  Oh, if he secures the nomination, he'll have my support and vote.  But for the life of me, I just can't see a "Giuliani in '08" bumper sticker anywhere near my vehicle.  

That lack of political passion (on my part, and by extension on the part of my fellow Repubs) worries me.
Of course Rudy want's to come to Florida, it's the sixth burrough of New York. That's why when I retire next year I'm moving out of here. As far as I'm concerned New York isn't the center of the universe. Rude,Crude,Loud,Sloppy and a bad attitude isn't my idea of friendly neighbors. Se Habla?
Ever since George and Jeb did their little dance on the election with the "computerized" voting machine's I have been getting an absentee ballot request by mail! A smart highschool freshman could fix the election as long as it's "computerized". Somehow I remember a highschool kid in N.J. that made millions playing with worthless stock's over the Net!! No editor, no fact checker, not much I would believe on this toy we call the internet. Anything you read could be made up,total fiction. But if the almighty computer say's it's so, it must be true. How Sad!! Let's start talking to eachother person to person not via E-Mail or Text Messages. It's really hard to lie if you have to look someone dead in the eye while your telling a line of B.S. Finally, all the Politican's should answer any question asked of them with a straight forward answer. No Jesse Jackson Mumble. Yes or No, it's not all that hard!
Biden pretty much summed up what Giuliani is all about! "A Noun, A Verb and 911"  That is all there is to him.  There is so much more to America and the world than that!  Wake up Florida and don't make another hugh mistake like in 2000.  It will take many years to reverse that mess!  Give me a break if the Republicans choose Rudy Giuliani then they are in for another humiliating loss.  It's a wonderful sight to see Hanity eat crow!!!
Ron Paul for President. Stop Sleeping on this guy. The rest of GOP field is a joke.
David in Pharr, It cracks me up when people don't get that Hannity is not a news guy. He makes political commentary as a conservative, same as Rush or Medved. They are not there to give equal time to democrats talking points, they are there to point out the flaws in your thinking. You have CNN and NPR doing the same for dems, and NPR is funded by taxes and pretends to be fair and balanced. The others have to be commercially sucessful to stay on the air, and are just plain free speech. They do well because they give intelligent debate. There are efforts by democrats to remove free speech by Hannity and Rush because, all their efforts failed to find anyone who could discuss issues with the public and keep a sponsor. Every host they tried would get backed into a corner on the issues then resort to name calling, then quit. I think most people get it. They are a commercial success not a news agency or goverment funded operation. Dems have the right to do the same and tried. They just have nothing to offer.
I hope this is now the start of change and the old regine is history...you have heard the same thing year after year promises, but no delivery...We cant meet any of the needs of the American people because we have so much port barrell spending and corruption in goverment such as the 89billion or so in Irag wasted..And whos making these decesions those who have made a career for themselves out of politics and self interest for them selve.....Change lets see who has the best interest and can do for the American working people who your stealing from.
I hope this is now the start of change and the old regine is history...you have heard the same thing year after year promises, but no delivery...We cant meet any of the needs of the American people because we have so much port barrell spending and corruption in goverment such as the 8to 9 billion or so in Irag wasted..And whos making these decesions those who have made a career for themselves out of politics and self interest for them selve.....Change lets see who has the best interest and can do for the American working people who your stealing from.


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