Presidential Run for the Roses: The GOP (Part 3)

Run Rudy Run!?
(For background, please read the previous two blogs, part 1 and 2)

In the Grand Old Party's presidential run for the roses, while U.S. Sen. John McCain's horse is losing steam, who will get the advantage in this presidential Derby? Will it be former mayor Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani; former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney; the new white knight of conservatives, U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-TN; or, another candidate?

"America's Mayor," as Oprah Winfrey has dubbed Giuliani, has been on top of most national polls since last year. He is seen as the Republican's dragon slayer, homeland defender and the proven savvy spokesman during times of crisis, or does he, too, as McCain does, have a political Archilles heel, a horse shoe that will fall off?

As a big city mayor--none other than NYC--Giuliani handled the hot media debate on issues sucessfully, particularly during 9/11. In contrast, Iowa is retail politics: one-one-one or one-on-small group in the countryside, small farms and small shops. Can he endure small town America? Will he vigorously campaign in the Iowa hinterlands, during the cold caucus nights at the Hawkeye state? This is doable for Giulani as he remains focused.

Giuliani dealt with crime and criminals in NYC and was an articulate spokesman during 9/11, but can he stop Islamic Fascism? There is a vast difference of the two. Yet, dealing with NYC gangs and decades long criminals and criminal families, Giulani has proven more than anyone else (besides president Bush 1 and 2 and Reagan), that he is willing to face the forces of darkness. His background shows victories but also a pullout.

He had the opportunity to defeat Hilary Clinton during her initial bid for New York Senate. Giulani backed out due to prostate cancer. Clinton went on to win handily. Giulani has another opportunity to do what he should have done earlier--defeat Hilary Clinton. His aborted campaign had other, perhaps hidden, reasons, which may point to his Archilles heal.

Giulani, before his NY Senate campaign, was warned by his then wife, to stop, within a year, his involvement with another woman. Apparently, after the one year period ended, Giuliani continued the affair. His wife came out publicly denouncing her husband's adultery. This announcement was followed by the announcement that Giulani had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Giulani then stopped his NY Senate bid.

To further complicate his moral disposititons, Giulani marched with NYC gay groups for many years while also marching lockstep with abortion rights groups. The "A" issue along with the gay and abortion issues do not sit well with social conservatives.

As more and more social conservatives, the largest voting block in the Republican Party, learn more about Giulani the man, how many will vote for him during the primary, particularly the South Carolina primary and later the in general election. Does he have other scandals yet to be revealed that Democrat opposition researchers will strategically leak to the media? With this moral Archilles heel, can he slay the dragon that will appear after the Democrat primary in 2008? Will their be a horse shoe that will drop during this lengthy presidential run for the roses?

He is seen as a hero to the nation, and particularly Republicans. He has led us through the wilderness of 9/11. In the end, is Giulani a biblical Samson, who led Israel for many years but had a moral weakness which led to his eventual downfall? Or will he be the St. George, saving the Republican village from a fire breathing Democrat dragon?

Your turn. What do you think?
For background, please read the two previous blogs, part 1 and 2.
Next Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and other candidates.