2008 kicked off with the breathless anticipation of traditional campaign faves: Iowa, New Hampshire, tiny whisperings of South Carolina. But while the frontrunners continued to pound the pavement, themselves, and each other, one (who bizarrely keeps leading in national polls regardless of his seeming obliviousness to the campaign) kept out of the snow altogether.
Rudy Guiliani's embraced a new method of campaigning: just don't. Now, different from the Fred Thompson method of napping in the La-Z-Boy 'til it's over, Guiliani is branding this anti-campaign strategy "Florida, Florida, Florida." The state's 57 delegates are bundled in a "winner take all" prize. Chasing big numbers, he's committed to spend his time not with a broad cross-section of the electorate but by concentrating almost exclusively on Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, California, Georgia, and New Jersey. To see how this plays out nationwide, please read more.
While the argument "that's where the money, the Guiliani-sympathizers, and the densest proportion of delegates are" certainly qualifies this as a "strategy," can you really be a viable candidate if you only court half a dozen states? Picking and choosing and campaigning where you think you can get the most for your money (and protecting your reputation) is a little like starting the marathon on foot and then riding the subway to the finish line — but it's a long, long ride until November.
Given this strategy, is Rudy Giuliani still a viable candidate?
Untold
I think it's pretty insulting to the rest of the country. The Floridian Republicans I know won't be voting for Giuliani, so... good luck, man.
1That's a creepy photo of Guiliani! Looks like maybe he just needs a vacation.
2Attempts to "game the system" is why I hate our Single-Member District Plurality.
It might have been necessary or more efficient back when everything was done by hand and there was no instantaneous communication, but really, it's the 21st century. Just tally up all the votes and leave it at that!
3Yeah what freegrace said. He doesn't feel the need to speak with the smaller states and just focus on the big ones like California or Florida. Some strategy.
BTW Welcome Citizen!
4It's a strategy similar to how I went from chess club captain to MVP on the Duke lacrosse team.
Too soon?
5What! I want to see Rudy when he comes to Florida, I love him!
6Well I am glad when it comes to down to it only Florida matters to him. So everyone else if you want change don't expect anything from him. He will be listening to Florida only. The 9/11 trail of tears campaign.
7perhaps his strategy is to get florida to secede from the rest of the US and be its perfect vacation president.
8The less I hear of Guiliani the better; I can't stand him. If he somehow became of next president, I would leave the country. He's a George Bush follower.
9in theory its a good idea, love to see how this one will play out...obviously Mc Cain and Romney have the most media coverage/momentum going from them of the GOP candidates from the media. And the media is such an important tool, especially for super duper tuesday...cant wait to see how rudy does!
10You spelled "Giuliani" wrong.
11i wonder if this strategy has anything to do with the democrats punishing florida for the early primary...i mean if any republican can benefit from that fallout its giuliani.
12He may still be arguable the most visible/visual Republican candidate. His face is easy to remember and his actions after September 11th are still fresh and pretty filled with emotion. The other candidates don't have that luxury I suppose...
13Most people spell it wrong
14Rudy Guliani's real strategy is to mention 9/11 as often as he can on camera. Q: How do you feel about how Obama is doing? Rudy: "Well, you know after 9/11..." Q: How do you feel about abortion? Rudy: "Well, with the way I felt after 9/11..." He has politicized 9/11 to the point of disgust, and he is the #1 person to have profited off of that tragedy.
15Giuliani is still misspelled three times within the above blurb, though thankfully you did change the headline and tag. But no, most people do not spell it wrong,...especially reputable newspapers and web sites. Ouch. Accuracy should be the primary (no pun intended) objective at all times. Or else you risk undermining your credibility.
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