Breaking News: Rudy Giuliani hints at dropping out

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In a meeting in the back of his chartered plane en route to St. Petersburg, Fla., a short while ago, the onetime, longtime GOP front-runner told a small group of reporters, including The Times' Louise Roug: "The winner of Florida will win the nomination."

He then went on to predict he would win. And his spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said later he was speaking with confidence.

But that's an unusually categorical statement suggesting that only a total first-place upset by Giuliani, who trails both Mitt Romney and John McCain in all major polls for Florida's Republican primary tomorrow, will keep him in the competition, despite previous repeated vows to continue.

Giuliani's campaign, which led in national polls when it began and stayed there for many months, is showing signs of serious financial fatigue. This month his top staffers are foregoing their paychecks so the maximum amount of money can be invested to salvage his political fortunes in the Sunshine State, which was where Giuliani's late-state strategy was to kick into high gear.

So far, he's yet to finish first anywhere and ended up behind Rep. Ron Paul in Iowa and Nevada.

In his meeting with reporters today, Giuliani added that, no matter what happens Tuesday, he definitely would participate in the Republican debate co-sponsored by The Times on Wednesday at the Reagan Library.

--Andrew Malcolm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington...ing-news-i.html

[no name 1]

Not news.

[garya505 2]

I've been thinking for some time now that Giuliani will bail if he doesn't win Florida. Anyway, his liberal social policies doomed him a long time ago.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I've been thinking for some time now that Giuliani will bail if he doesn't win Florida. Anyway, his liberal social policies doomed him a long time ago.

Which of the remaining Republican candidates do you think are true conservatives?

[doodlebugg 10]

Doesn't suprise me. He's done next to nothing to campaign in Iowa or NH. I kept asking my mother who keeps up on this stuff "where's Guiliani???" and she kept saying his total focus is in Florida. Whoever managed his campaign should be fired.

[garya505 2]

I've been thinking for some time now that Giuliani will bail if he doesn't win Florida. Anyway, his liberal social policies doomed him a long time ago.

Which of the remaining Republican candidates do you think are true conservatives?

Funny you should ask. I have reservations about all of them. The guy I really liked was Duncan Hunter, after that probably Fred Thompson.

Here are the reservations I have (I'm sort of thinking out loud here):

Romney - I think he may have compromised with the liberals a few times too many. Also, not sure I like his medical insurance plan in MA. Sometimes he seems a little "slick" for my tastes, but his core values are good (I think ).

Huckabee - Fiscal policy could lean toward to much spending IMO. I'm not a fan of the FairTax as it is currently proposed (I prefer a hybrid tax system using a combination single rate and national sales tax, though no candidates are currently proposing this). For the new kid on the block he's doing pretty good.

McCain - Don't get me started in the immigration bill. He may have learned his lesson on that one, but it still bothers me. How could he think mainstream Reps would buy into that #######? Otherwise I like him. He's a true American hero.

Ron Paul - When my wife and see him on TV I always say he reminds me of the Joker character in the Batman movie.

Edited January 28, 2008 by garya505