Rudy Gets Ready To Run
Vaughn Ververs is senior political editor for CBSNews.com.
Giuliani has his work cut out for him getting to that point. He'll have to convince enough of those party stalwarts in places like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to look the other way on key issues they disagree on – abortion, gun control and gay rights to mention a few. Giuliani has begun to have that conversation. When it comes to abortion, he says he wants to appoint "strict constructionists" to the courts – judges like Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.
On gun control, Giuliani defends his record as mayor of New York but says what worked in a big city isn't necessary everyplace. He says marriage should be between a man and a woman but has signed domestic partnership legislation and says it's important to recognize such relationships. Translation: I'm not going to crusade on abortion, I won't take away your guns and I'll defend the traditional definition of marriage.
In a Republican field that is going to be crowded, it's a message that might work. Republicans, unlike Democrats, have winner-take all primary contests and with five or even six serious candidates, it's possible to win with less than a majority of primary votes.
Will it work? It's certainly possible, but I wonder whether Giuliani risks damaging the very elements which make him such an attractive general election candidate in the first place. What happens when the steady hand which comforted New York, and much of the nation, on 9/11 and during its aftermath begins to sound like any other politician? Will voters who might be attracted to Rudy today start to get turned off by his "strict constructionist" judges and his defense of marriage? In order to get the nomination, he has to bend toward his party's base to some degree.
The question is, can he bend without being broken?