• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Schneider: Giuliani's got the 'Big Mo'

By Bill Schneider
CNN Senior Political Analyst

Adjust font size:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Some candidates seem to be getting what the first President Bush once called "the Big Mo'' in the 2008 presidential race: momentum.

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told CNN's Larry King Wednesday that "yeah, I'm running" for president.

But he's not just getting in. He's also taking off.

Last month, the USA Today/Gallup poll had Giuliani and Sen. John McCain running neck-and-neck among Republicans nationwide -- 31 percent for Giuliani compared to 27 percent for McCain.

Now Giuliani has moved to a sizeable lead over Arizonan McCain in the USA Today/Gallup poll -- 40 percent for Giuliani to 24 percent for McCain.

The latest USA Today/Gallup poll was conducted February 9-11. The polls' margin of error was plus-or-minus 5 percentage points.

What's driving it?

Giuliani is 9/11. That's what gave him the image of strong, decisive leadership. The same image President Bush used to have.

"I think they will vote for a candidate based on leadership," Giuliani told Larry King. "We need a candidate who can handle this country in a time of war."

And a majority of Americans believe Giuliani could be that candidate. According to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, 65 percent of all Americans say Giuliani would make a good president, and, among them, 9/11 is the main reason they feel that way.

McCain is becoming more identified with a different Bush image: Iraq.

McCain and Giuliani support the president on Iraq. It's a matter of which image Republicans want to present to voters next year.

The Bush of 9/11 got re-elected in 2004. The Bush of Iraq got defeated in 2006.

But everything is not smooth sailing for Giuliani. Some social conservatives are determined to block him.

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, a prominent social conservative group, recently said "I think Giuliani is unacceptable from the outset."

So why are so many conservatives coming out for Giuliani?

"They see Giuliani as this person who did a spectacular job in 9/11 and who did a good job as mayor of New York," explained Terry Jeffrey, editor at large of Human Events. "They don't know where he stands on abortion and marriage.''

Giuliani will never be a favorite of social conservatives, but he is trying to make himself "not unacceptable'' to them.

"I am pro-choice, but I am also, as you know, against abortion. Hate abortion. Never liked it,'' Giuliani told CNN. "I believe that marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman. We can have something like domestic partnership, which I support.''

In the end, Giuliani is relying on the "halo effect'' of 9/11. He hopes voters will set aside litmus tests for leadership.

"There is understanding that you can't find a candidate you agree with 100 percent of the time," Giuliani said. "I think they will vote for a candidate based on leadership.''

Among Democrats, Hillary Clinton seems to have the Big Mo. Her lead over Barack Obama has widened from 11 points last month to 19 points this month, according to the USA Today/Gallup poll. Clinton was the top choice of 40 percent of Democrats compared to 21 percent for Obama.

What happens if you ask all voters to choose between Clinton and Giuliani? Pretty much a tie -- Giuliani 50 percent, Clinton 48 percent -- according to the USA Today/Gallup poll.

Promise of auto plant revitalizes dying town A community that seemed on the road to becoming a ghost town has taken a turn toward prosperity despite the recession, thanks to an automaker.

---

• Kia promise turns town's economy
• Couple who adopted 12 found slain
• Thousands attend McNair funeral
• Jackson's pill use emerges
• Dems propose tax on wealthy

• Mexican gangs gun down police in seven cities
• Bloody week in Iraq: at least 59 civilians dead
• U.S. alters strategy in effort to free 2 in N. Korea
• Obama: Promise of Africa 'yet to be fulfilled'
• NASA delays shuttle launch after lightning

• Talkin' 'Icky Thump' blues (1:40)
• 'Why you treat yourself bad?' (3:15)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)
• Unseemly rap lyrics targeted (3:29)
• Now In The News (Updated: 5:23 p.m. ET)