Pure Horserace: Giuliani's Gamble

(CBS)  Rudy Giuliani has spent the past two weeks of the campaign discussing topics like abortion and gun control — issues on which the moderate diverges from the Republican Party's conservative base. But today finds him on familiar turf.

The former New York mayor, whose leadership in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks played a large part in building support for his presidential bid, spoke Thursday at the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. According to the Associated Press, Giuliani said the people of Oklahoma City became "a model of compassion and strength" after the attack, which killed 168 people.

Giuliani's strong words on national security and fighting terrorism, along with the wave of goodwill he experienced after 9/11, have always been his biggest strengths in this race — and he has sought to emphasize them at every turn in a bid to persuade conservative Republican primary voters to put aside their concerns about his views on social issues.

But Giuliani's appearance in Oklahoma City raises some questions about his candidacy: How much can he run on the terrorism issue without seeming opportunistic? And what can he do when there isn't an appropriate context — like today's anniversary memorial — for bringing attention to the issue? During a recent swing through the South, Giuliani was constantly peppered with questions on social issues, taking him off message. That isn't likely to end anytime soon, no matter where Giuliani goes.

It puts the current GOP front-runner in an awkward situation: Either talk about the issues on which he disagrees with many of the voters he's courting, or switch the subject to terrorism and risk accusations of both dodging questions and trying to benefit from tragedy. The risk is an inherent part of Giuliani's candidacy — it's highly unlikely he's a candidate without an event like 9/11 in his biography — and it's one he must navigate for months to have a shot at winning his party's nomination. How Giuliani handles this task could be one of the big storylines of the Republican race.


Doolittle's Raid: Wednesday, April 18, marked the 65th anniversary of the Allied air raid on Japan led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle. Coincidentally, Wednesday was also the day we learned of an FBI raid on the home of Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., who has been connected to convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. And today, Doolittle resigned his post from the powerful Appropriations Committee.

The raid, which actually took place last Friday, focused on a company run by Doolittle's wife, Julie, the Associated Press reported. Julie Doolittle's company received money from Abramoff's firm for event-planning work. Doolittle has also accepted campaign money from Abramoff.

Doolittle faced a competitive race in 2006, and news of the raid guarantees he'll be on Democrats' radar for the 2008 elections. But the raid also indicates that the Abramoff scandal could have legs beyond the decisive elections last year and beyond Doolittle's northeastern California district. It also allows Democrats to again focus on corruption within the Republican ranks — a winning issue for them in 2006 and something that might come in handy if their legislative initiatives remain stalled.


Liberal Luxury: In both of his presidential campaigns, Democrat John Edwards has emphasized his life growing up as the son of a mill worker and his efforts to fight poverty, help the middle class and reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

His populist style, however, has opened him up to accusations of being a "limousine liberal." While Edwards grew up under modest circumstance, he ended up making millions as a trial lawyer. He also endured a small controversy earlier this year when he purchased a 29,000-square-foot home. Then there was the report that an Edwards staffer tried to obtain a PlayStation 3 for the former senator from Wal-Mart, a company Edwards has often criticized.

On Thursday, the Edwards campaign made an announcement that is unlikely to help their candidate maintain a "man of the people" image. The candidate, The Associated Press reports, has reimbursed his campaign $800 for two trips to a Beverly Hills stylist. Other trips to salons, however, were said to be legitimate campaign expenses made in preparation for media appearances.

Many people under the age of 40 might not get what conservative radio pundit Rush Limbaugh is talking about when he calls Edwards the "Breck Girl" — but they'll certainly understand jokes about Edwards getting $400 haircuts.


By David Miller

[perception5]

$400 hair cuts and CBS (Censoring Broadcasting Station) LEFT out other item that John, the divider, Edwards is having done and charging off to his campaign.

He's done........... this rich guy, Edwards, has been bought by our mob-run unions and Moveon.org nutty crowds. He's certainly NOT representing all Americans..... and the rich liberals keep getting richer.

[kalatur2]

Republicans are mostly bald.

[frb01]

Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Bill Clinton, I think his tied up the LAX for a while all got expensive haircuts. Must be a Dem thing.