A going-away gift from Rudy?

Posted: Monday, January 28, 2008 1:54 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
CLEARWATER, FL -- Atop each seat in the press section of the Giuliani charter this afternoon sat a baseball -- with Rudy Giuliani’s name scribbled between the stitching.

It seemed like a going-away present from a campaign that has appeared more resigned to its fate in recent days. Campaign staffers and the press have been dancing around the future throughout the day, with one reporter even joking with a press aide about finding new jobs.

The crowd at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport was thin, barely reaching triple digits. At times, Giuliani’s surrogates -- Jon Voight and Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- have seemed to have more enthusiasm than the candidate himself.

But Giuliani, with Judith by his side and holding his hand throughout a press availability, has been hitting home his message, placing himself as the most experienced on both economic policy and national security, and believing early voting will give them a more reliable turnout than his opponents.

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Comments

Is Rudy still "top tier"... http://truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm

Mike, Hermosa Beach, CA (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:08 PM)

Who'da thunkit?

HAHA bye bye Rudy, you f'n joke!

Jimmy CHICAGO IL (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:14 PM)

Time has long past for Rudy to exit the GOP campaign stage. Florida voters should send him a clear message.

Gooddog (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:17 PM)

Ha Ha. About time that smug troll who snickered at Ron Paul during debates finally faces his fate. It just shows that America cannot handle someone who spends like this. He spent his way out of the primary, just like McCain, Huckabee and Romney will. Why would we want someone who cannot balance his own budget running ours?

Dwight Renner, a vet, Houston, TX (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:17 PM)

Wonder who Perry will endorse now? Good thing Perry will no longer have a VP Shot.

TEC-Spring-TX (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:18 PM)

For cogent reasons for electing Obama, I recommend the excellent article in the December issue of Atlantic magazine entitled "Why Obama?"

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:19 PM)

Who cares about Giuliani anyway?!

Althea Steele (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:24 PM)

I noticed Rudy's lack of enthusiasm yesterday seeing him on TV. It sounded like a speech to the rotary club, not one to get your supporters to go vote for you in 2 days. He's finished and either he knows it or he doesn't care.

chuck (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:47 PM)

Having watched all the Live GOP Campaigns on different stations yesterday in Florida....the one with the most "MO" was McCain's. I do believe you also showed him now leading in the National Polls...and darn -- there's that word again...
E L E C T I B I L I T Y...

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:49 PM)

Is it possible that we're actually watching the general election play out as Hillary v. Obama? Rudy and the others seem to know this already. I'm a Republican but can't get excited about any of our choices. There is nothing hopeful going on in the GOP.

Tim, Memphis TN (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 2:50 PM)

The media has manage to build Obama and has made a good selling job. However, we should be realistic and choose on qualification rather than on who gives good speeches. We are not and should not vote on an american idol but for a predident of the United States.

Arturo Gomez Universal City,Tx (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:01 PM)

So long, Troll.

Lee in CA (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:02 PM)

Yes today we seen a page in American History. For Ted Kennedy to pass the tourch of JFK onto Barck Obama !

It is a day that will live forever.

Proud to be an America.

OBAMA 08

PS. Rudy is done

James Brown (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:11 PM)

At least it won't be Hillary vs. Rudy now. That would have been a NIGHTMARE!

Wilson, Seattle (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:15 PM)

It's time for RUDY to call it "QUITS" for the good of the GOP!

FMF, Jacksonville, FL (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:17 PM)

I appreciate Tim's position. None of the Republican candidates (except Ron Paul) represent much of a change from Pres. Bush. Who would want a third term of this?

David Peden (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:19 PM)

You can use them to throw 'curve balls'

.... or 'sinkers'

Hey !! Save a few of those for Billary ....

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:24 PM)

Rudy can't get it through his cross-dressing head that southerners are not interested in doing anything "the way we do it in NY." Cry baby New Yorkers like Giuliani are part of the problem in the South. They come here then whine and complain things aren't the way they are in that sty they call New York City. Guiliani is a lame duck. Even the firefighter unions of New York City say this guy is a liar and the last person we want as president. He's a walking oxyMORON. You can't be both a devout Catholic and support abortion rights (What would you think about someone who said he personally opposed slavery, would never own a slave himself, but fought fervently for the right of others to own slaves? This is Giuliani's position regarding abortion).

And Giuliani (and his entire camp) is crying, complaining and whining more than never now that Governor Crist had the good sense to endorse another candidate. So long GHOULiani!

"If you love NY, I-95 North!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSx5LwoZ3ac&feature=related

Nicholas C. (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:29 PM)

What makes the most sense to me is McCain vs Clinton, she will get the nod, John McCain will be our next president and will clean up the mess he will inherit. Trust me, I been voting since IKE and I know an honest person when I see them.

Marty CR Iowa (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:31 PM)

Giuliani WHO? Hey Matthews, you mentioned that guy,s name a thoudsand time. I think he believed his own press reports. No matter, you just can,t I repeat can,t by pass the voter,s!

mike p (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:32 PM)

I think that Rudy's flawed plan to start with Florida is beginning to show. If he had done something in one of the earlier states like New Hampshire, he might be in a better place in the polls. Like it or not, people in states later than Iowa and New Hampshire look to those states even subconsciencously to be some kind of guide.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:34 PM)

Yeah, my middle finger is the going away gift! Enjoy the gift, Giuliani!

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:35 PM)

so long rudy911...you tried to ride the fear train to victory but too much judy judy judy did you in...that and mccain saying he would start more wars which is just red meat for the trailer park crowd in your party

Rick, Ws, NC (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:39 PM)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCYEEO-58I

Truth will set you free (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:41 PM)

For some very cogent reasons for electing Obama I recommend the excellent article in the December issue of Atlantic magazine entitled "Why Obama?"

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:44 PM)

giulliani new name is mr-911 conspiring with the bush administration to cover the truth about 911

escobar (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:45 PM)

Tim -
Please take a look at Mike Huckabee. I think you will find that there is a lot to be hopeful for...He has an incredible plan ( I listened to him as I attended a speech here in Birmingham Sat. afternoon) that focuses on both foreign and domestic issues... I think that he can unite our country in a way that not even Barack Obama can. I had no idea how exciting and hopeful his plans for our country were until I heard him Sat. Both his speech and the press conference that followed were invigorating...the GOP really does have a candidate who wants to focus on change - on our economy and on creating a stronger, brighter America...

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:47 PM)

black people need to wake up and see how much of a racist is the first black president billhary clinton. wowwww, i never ever trusted the clintons. no diffrence with the bushes, the only thing is they went to school but the bushes were alcoholics and coke head.

escobar (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:51 PM)

Some of the most profound problems in the country can be traced to fatherlessness and unequal parenting following divorce. Violent crime, substance abuse, unwed pregnancy, juvinile crime, suicide, truancy, and more, Fatherlessness far outweighs race and poverty combined, as a predictor of these and other social pathologies. What a disappointment that a divorced Dad couldn't get in...

Pablo Burt (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:53 PM)

A vote for giulliani is a vote for world war three. we can't afford that right now.

escobar (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:54 PM)

A vote for giulliani is a vote for world war three. we can't afford that right now.

escobar (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:57 PM)

giulliani new name is mr-911 conspiring with the bush administration to cover the truth about 911. a pronoun, a verb, and 911. if rudy wins the american presidency is a joke as proving by george w.bush.

escobar (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 3:59 PM)

Thank goodness Mr. Guiliani will be getting his ticket punched to go home (probably for some more 9-11 Profiteering). That man would have been a disaster as president. He was the one Republican that I was worried about fooling the whole populace and making even more trouble for America. Now hopefully the rest of the country can get past the politics of fear and doubt and elect the best person for the job, Sen. Barack Obama!!

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 4:23 PM)

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama

this is the link to the article the John Mehan refered to. It is an amazing article with unbelievable clarity. I will make you think about this election and our country from a totally different perspective.

Todd, New York, NY (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 4:26 PM)

Good bye, Rudy! Why don't you take Huckabee with you. He's going to be needing a job....how about as your limo driver!

James Finn, Clyde, Ohio (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 4:52 PM)

A bad year for New Yorkers

Jim, Santa Cruz (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 5:47 PM)

Rudy should be the GOP nominee. Look at the facts objectively. Here are 5 great reasons to vote for Rudy:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/01/rudy_giuliani_should_be_gop_no.html

Tim, Dallas TX (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 6:00 PM)

Dwight- for being so offended by Rudy's "smug" attitude towards Paul, you sure sound smug. Exactly how is it that you think all the candidates except yours are going to spend their way out of the election? Wins bring in more fundraising. Your boy has raised impressive amounts, but he hasn't even come close to a win in any of the states that have already voted (even the second in Nevada was miles behind the winner- not even half). I'm not worried about the top candidates spending the money they've raised/earned. I am curious what Paul is going to do with all the money he's raised when he finally gives up (it's already obvious to the rest of us that he doesn't stand a chance in the GOP... so unless he runs as an independent...which he said he wasn't going to do on numerous occasions...) Just a thought.

Kira, Utah (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 6:58 PM)

Tim- "Is it possible that we're actually watching the general election play out as Hillary v. Obama? Rudy and the others seem to know this already. I'm a Republican but can't get excited about any of our choices. There is nothing hopeful going on in the GOP."

Ok, surely you know at least a little something about the election process. It doesn't matter how crappy the choices are, there will be one candidate from the dems and one from the GOP... and perhaps an independent. There CANNOT be 2 dems running against each other in the general. Neither HC or BO would ever consider being a republican, so your scenario is ridiculous. Sorry.

Marty- are you serious? You know an "honest" candidate when you see one and you think that's John McCain? Apparently you haven't been paying attention the last few days. Lied in the debate about his knowledge/comments on the economy, lied about winning the repub vote in NH and SC, lied about Romney (the timetable nonsense). Lied to/cheated on his first wife. Lied about his amnesty position/former immigration stance... etc. Sorry, he is in NO WAY an honest candidate.

Kira, Utah (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 7:02 PM)

I expect the Ron Paul fans to give up sometime midway through 2010.

What would be a really nice going away present from Rudy would be an endorsement of John McCain.

Pat Curley (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:29 AM)

Now that i have read all of your comments from you screaming liberals and your hatred for "RUDY and AMERICA" I now have to reevaluate my vote for Mcain to Rudy because if he generated this much hatred from you people he must be doing something right!!!

Dave (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:05 PM)

Kathryn,
Mike Huckabee will not be accepted as a uniter because of his credentials. He is an evangelical pastor and he does not seem t have room for people like gays,atheists, other religions etc in his camp. Remember how Pres. Bush was supposed to be the great uniter. And we all know what happened. With Huckabee, it will be another version of my way or the highway, but could impact education with creationism forced down the throats of others. Sorry, not a uniter, but a divider !!

LP (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:42 PM)

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