For Giuliani, A Disappointing Fade To Exit

CBSNews.com Reports: Rudy Giuliani's Slide From National Frontrunner To Florida Also-Ran To Be Remembered As Cautionary Tale

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Rudy Giuliani had hoped that his presidential campaign would serve as an example of how an unorthodox strategy could propel a candidate to his party's nomination.

Instead, it appears more likely to be remembered as a cautionary tale.

Giuliani's third-place finish in Florida, the state on which he had staked his presidential bid, marked the end for a campaign that was unable to capitalize on the candidate's national name recognition and strong reputation on homeland security issues.

"We ran a campaign that was uplifting," Giuliani told supporters in a concession speech Tuesday night. "You don't always win, but you can always try to do it right." CBS News has confirmed that Giuliani is expected to exit the race and plans to endorse Sen. John McCain on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The national frontrunner for most of last year, Giuliani elected to focus on large, delegate rich states instead of those that come early in the primary calendar - a decision made in full only after briefly competing in places like New Hampshire to little success. While his rivals were making headlines for their early victories, the former New York City mayor faced a flood of negative stories about his personal life and judgment, many tied to third wife Judith Nathan and disgraced longtime ally Bernard Kerik.

"Giuliani got a significant amount of bad press for about a week and a half for personal issues while everybody else was getting good press from the early primaries," said Tallahassee-based political consultant Brett Doster. "The negative personal stories combined with the resurgence of John McCain - the only guy in the field who had more credibility on national security - began to suck all the oxygen away from Giuliani's part of the aquarium."

"His reputation as a crisis manager was great at the beginning," said Susan McManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida. "But the more people found out about him personally, the less they liked him. And I don't want to cast that as just social conservatives. It was Republicans in general. Character was something that Giuliani just fell short on."

According to CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield, the shift in public attention from the Iraq war to the economy may have hampered Giuliani.

"The emergence of the economy as a dominant issue play[ed] to Mitt Romney's strength, making Giuliani's record as New York Mayor and 9/11 hero less potent," Greenfield said.

CBS News exit polls bear that out. According to analysis by CBS News election consultant Monika McDermott, while Giuliani and Romney split the vote of those who considered terrorism their top issue, only 21 percent of Florida primary voters listed it as their most important issue. The economy, meanwhile, swamped all other concerns, ranking as the top issue for nearly half of Florida voters. And Giuliani won only 12 percent of their vote.

McManus said that Giuliani was initially popular in Florida in part because he seemed likely to be the Republican nominee, but his support in the state faded as he no longer looked like the inevitable candidate.

"A lot of Florida Republicans were just under the assumption he was going to get the nomination so they said 'ok, we'll support him,'" she said. "But after the early primaries and with the others rising in the polls, his soft support started to loosen."

Indeed, according to the exit polls, Giuliani's fade in Florida mirrored his decline nationally. More than half of Giuliani's voters on Tuesday decided to support him last year. Voters who decided later in the game, meanwhile, backed McCain and Romney: Giuliani received only 12 percent of the vote from those who decided in the past week, versus McCain and Romney's 36 percent each.

Despite his relentless campaigning in Florida, Giuliani was unable to maintain his strong position in state polls.

"He didn't wear well in Florida," said GOP strategist David E. Johnson. "In South Florida there are a lot of Northeast transplants, but in Florida there are a lot of people from the Midwest, too - places like Ohio. And to them he came across as this abrasive New Yorker, this stereotypical New Yorker. Everything that he talked about was related to New York City. It rubbed people the wrong way."

The former mayor struggled even among those expected to be his natural constituency, according to exit polls. Moderate and independent voters chose McCain, as did Florida's Hispanic electorate. Giuliani even lost the Catholic vote, a bloc of support he could always count on in New York. Catholics went for both McCain - 38 percent - and Romney - 28 percent - over Giuliani at 24 percent.

Tonight's results mean the end of a candidacy that will be remembered for its failure to capitalize on the reputation Giuliani built in the wake of the Sept. 11th attacks.

There are some candidates who can walk into the room and everybody gets their hands out of the cocktail jars because they want to be with the candidate," said Johnson. "Giuliani is a candidate like that. With Romney, nobody would really run over to see him. Rudy had the star quality, and that translated to those early poll numbers. But it was always somewhat artificial."

[roger_inkart]

Rudy, you will not be missed. You are an authoritarian thug who shamlessly tried to exploit a national tragedy for your personal gain. I''m glad enough people saw through it and you are now history.

[roger_inkart]

barack obama''s adult drug use and homosexuality coming out.

Posted by WarDogLRS at 04:49 PM : Jan 30, 2008

More like the gruesome desperation of the sorry-a$$ right-wing lunatics coming out.

[wardoglrs]

barack obama''s adult drug use and homosexuality coming out.

http://wesawthat.blogspot.com/2008/01/barack-obamas-adult-drug-use-and.html

[citizenusa-2009]

Ha Ha, I told you so! This "Poser" has been EXPOSED! Bye Bye Rudy!!! Good riddance!

[opedanderson]

9-11 9-11 My 9-11 name 9-11 is 9-11 Rudy! 9-11 i''m 9-11 running 9-11 for 9-11 president!!

9-11 9-11 9-11 9-11

[oleander8]

"I''''m still waiting on the dirt from the whitewater papers to be made public." Posted by SPANK071

After 6 years of Republicans investigating Whitewater - nothing inappropriate was ever found. May the witch hunts of the ''90''s be gone forever.

[excoachken]

He had the wrong mantra. 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11.

[antoniof123]

Rudy lost because he got less votes. But it will not matter for the GOP they are in deep doo doo. If the economy turns good probably won''t because it is just a stop gap to try something else it but let''s say it does. Then you have Iraq, Health care; not a very goood subject for the Republicans American feels they are worthless on those subjects so anyway you look at it you are looking at a Democrat as President. And of course the GOP congress people. They supported stay the course good luck with getting more seats.

They were warned in 2006 that a storm was brewing off the horizion and they failed to take action now let them feel see what the sowed.

[nonagzone]

If McCain is the republican choice I will vote of Obama. If the firt *** is the choice I will stay home. First time in 30 years

[nonagzone]

Sounds like Rudy is going to support McCain. Amazing how the liberals support each other. Now if we could only get the republicans to do the same. I know I said republicans.

[b-easy63]

Wonder how long Judy will stay in the picture now that Rudy realizes that she is a liability and that he/she together is POISON to voters, regardless of political party. I give her 3 more years tops--then bye bye Judy and on to wife number 4. Think it will be a blonde (again) this time? LOL

[piercetheval]

Rudy was here --uuu--*U*--uuu--

[abbe91]

Actually, it''s good for the GOP that Giuliani is out.
With Giuliani nominated, other scandals would have come out (ties with Al-Thani, KSM, ...).
McCain is certainly not my candidate but he is probably honnest, unfortunately even when singing "Bomb Iran".

[Markus]

"I don''''t give doo didly about how who he married, divorced, slept with, accepted calls from or took on vacation when and where. Let he without sin take a crack at accomplishing what Rudy did."

Take your doo-didly and send it to Rudy.Then go back to Texas.A man who has no repect for the vows he takes in multiple marriages,won''t have any respect for the one he would take as president.

[spank071]

I''m still waiting on the dirt from the whitewater papers to be made public.Man!How sick some voters are gonna feel when they find that they have traded the devil for a witch.

p.s.Barack Obama is the safe bet people!

[nativeflower-2009]

I came to NY from TX in 97. I benefited from Mr Giuliani''s vision to make this city a Great Place to live and follow your dreams. He made it safe and New Yorkers took pride in their great city. Regardless of his bid for candidacy, this man will go down in history as one of the toughest most effective leaders in our country''s history. I don''t give doo didly about how who he married, divorced, slept with, accepted calls from or took on vacation when and where. Let he without sin take a crack at accomplishing what Rudy did.

[nativeflower-2009]

I came to NY from TX in 97. I benefited from Mr Giuliani''s vision to make this city a Great Place to live and follow your dreams. He made it safe and New Yorkers took pride in their great city. Regardless of his bid for candidacy, this man will go down in history as one of the toughest most effective leaders in our country''s history. I don''t give doo didly about how who he married, divorced, slept with, accepted calls from or took on vacation when and where. Let he without sin take a crack at accomplishing what Rudy did.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Don''''t worry, Repugs, McCain is another sinking ship. Vote Republican. Vote Clinton!" Posted by kissamaarse

Although I will hold my nose and vote Clinton, I must say that as for your statement, truer words are rarely posted here...

[piercetheval]

The selection of a "Judas Goat" for the Repugs. is nearly complete. Pity McCain is the one to be sacrificed. I almost kinda like the man, for a Repug. Go Hillary!

[rowdytexan2]

I guess the Floridians didn''t buy all those 9/11 photo ops either. You got to be more than a noun...a verb...and 9/11, Rudy.