Giuliani confirms he’s running in 2008

**Piggybank Cop** · 02-15-07, 10:00 AM

RUDY, RUDY, RUDY.

Giuliani confirms he’s running in 2008
Former NYC mayor, a moderate Republican, joins pool of contenders
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 8:09 a.m. ET Feb 15, 2007

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a moderate Republican best known for his post-Sept. 11 leadership over his city, confirmed Wednesday his intentions to run for president in the 2008 elections.

Giuliani made the announcement during an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live." He had filed a statement of candidacy earlier this month with the Federal Election Commission and filed paperwork for an exploratory committee in November.

"Yes, I'm running," Giuliani told King. "I think I can make a difference. I believe this country needs leadership."

Giuliani enters a crowded field of potential GOP hopefuls that includes Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback.

Later in the show, King asked Giuliani, "Would you like to run against (Sen.) Hillary (Clinton)?"

"I'd like to run against anybody the Democrats nominated," Giuliani said. "If it's Hillary, God bless her. If it's (Sen. Barack) Obama, terrific. If it's (John) Edwards, I hope I haven't left somebody out, but I think those are the three top ones."

Giuliani was widely praised for leading New York during and after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The former mayor is a moderate who supports gun control and abortion rights, stands that would put him at odds with the majority of the conservative GOP base.

It was difficult to determine whether the CNN appearance qualified as an official announcement of his candidacy.

During a news conference Saturday after a speech in Sacramento, Calif., Giuliani was asked, "Are you in this for good?"

"Yes, I am committed," he said. "This is something I believe I can bring something to, from the experiences that I've had."

When asked a follow-up question about when he would make a formal announcement, he responded, "Well, formally announce? I don't know. If you go back to my speech, I think I may have. I'm not sure."

He then alluded to making an announcement in multiple locations "so we get more attention" but provided no details.

**Pedro56** · 02-15-07, 10:03 AM

Thats great I just hope that all the morons that are allowed to live in this nation don't decide to vote for that female cow or that coke head from my state.

**keith720** · 02-15-07, 01:26 PM

I hope Rudy has the balls to run the country the way he ran New York. If Hillary or Obama win, heaven help us all! He's gonna use the race card, and she's running on B.J.Clinton's coat tails.

**Terminator** · 02-15-07, 01:55 PM

I'm voting for Newt. But if he doesn't make it, Rudy is my back up plan.

Edited to add: God help us if a Democrat, especially Clinton, Obama, or Edwards, gets elected in 2008.

**Virginian** · 02-15-07, 02:41 PM

I'm not really happy with any of the candidates that I know of so far, but I'll vote for Tony before I let Clinton or Obama get elected.

**DirtRoadDeputy** · 02-15-07, 03:19 PM

I'm voting Libertarian.

**vicat777** · 02-15-07, 05:04 PM

Well, I am glad Rudy is running. Now we have someone with some balls that can lead this country in the right direction. If you have not been to his website, it is worth looking at. JoinRudy2008.com

**Beans** · 02-15-07, 05:21 PM

I am a democrat, but I am voting for Rudy if he makes it.

**Jackalope** · 02-15-07, 09:45 PM

I can't believe that 1SG Kelly, who once described himself as "three steps to the right of Gengis Khan," would support Giuliani.

Giuliani did a fine job leading the city through the September 11th aftermath. And I understand he deserves the credit for cleaning up so much of the crime there. But he's still a socialist. I don't have any confidence that he'll reduce the size of government or protect us from the next tax-hike plan the Democrats propose.

**Piggybank Cop** · 02-15-07, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jackalope

I can't believe that 1SG Kelly, who once described himself as "three steps to the right of Gengis Khan," would support Giuliani.

Giuliani did a fine job leading the city through the September 11th aftermath. And I understand he deserves the credit for cleaning up so much of the crime there. But he's still a socialist. I don't have any confidence that he'll reduce the size of government or protect us from the next tax-hike plan the Democrats propose.

Well you're right; but he's a hell of a lot better than anyone from the dark side.

**dadyswat** · 02-16-07, 07:42 AM

Democrat in Rpublican clothing.

**Virginian** · 02-16-07, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jackalope

I can't believe that 1SG Kelly, who once described himself as "three steps to the right of Gengis Khan," would support Giuliani.

Giuliani did a fine job leading the city through the September 11th aftermath. And I understand he deserves the credit for cleaning up so much of the crime there. But he's still a socialist. I don't have any confidence that he'll reduce the size of government or protect us from the next tax-hike plan the Democrats propose.

That's how I feel about the man - but I'll take him over Hitlery any day

**Norm357** · 02-17-07, 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by keith758

I hope Rudy has the balls to run the country the way he ran New York. If Hillary or Obama win, heaven help us all! He's gonna use the race card, and she's running on B.J.Clinton's coat tails.

If he wins, kiss your guns goodbye.

**TwanimusPrime** · 02-17-07, 03:21 AM

All you Republicans thinking of voting for more Conervative guys like Romney or Gingrinch arn't looking at the big picture. You can't look at who you want to win the primary, you have to look at who CAN win the general.

The Republicans SUCK right now. And I am a Republican. The 2006 election is a perfect example. The economy is kicking ass, and it wasn't mentioned once by the repubs. Remeber how the Dems took credit for a huge economy they had nothing to do with? Whether or not what republicans have done effected the economy isn't the point. The point is they didn't take credit for it. They allow the media and the dems to focus on how horrible this war is, and don't try at all to mention all the positive it has done. And whether or not he desrves it, Bush's approval ratings are way down and not going up. Hes still the poster boy for conservatives right now.

A Conservative Republican will not win the general election. Period. Now, I would love for one to win, but gotta look at realty. The current politcal climate won't allow it.

If you vote for Romney, or Gingrinch, or some other high end conservative, guess what. We're getting Hillary or Obama. If the Republicans have any hope of not having that, they need to elect either Rudy or McCain in the primary. Now, don't get me wrong, even being from AZ I'm not a big John McCain fan. But he would be a HELL of a lot better than either Barak Hussein Obama or Ms. Bubba.

I personally would pick Rudy out of those two, but this is the reality folks. It has to either be Rudy or McCain if we have any hope of beating Hillary or Obama. In a perfect world a more harder core conservative would be better, but we have to deal with the reality.

So all you guys who are gonna vote in the primaries for Newt, or Mic, or some other uber conservative. You might as well be voting democrat, its going to make the same difference.