But, Rudy Giuliani is taking a different approach - the high road - at least for now.

While his rivals accuse one another of dishonesty and lambaste one another’s records, Rudy Giuliani is attempting to stay above the fray, saying he will not attack his fellow GOP contenders.

“I’d rather stay away from criticism of other Republicans. Our objective is to beat the Democrats and the less we criticize each other, the better position we’re gonna be in to beat the Democrats,” he said after a quick stop at an Indianola bakery. “”It seems to me we got so many issues to talk about in which we can distinguish ourselves, our different experiences, our different backgrounds, and give the voters a chance to decide.”

But, the fact is that negative campaign ads work.

In today’s polls from Iowa, Mitt Romney has eroded Mike Huckabee’s lead. And, John McCain has vaulted into the lead (of sorts -within the margin of error) in a national GOP poll. Both as a result of negative ads.

Rudy will play the UNIFIER for now and will wait for the dust to clear between the Romney-Huckabee and Romney-McCain media wars. In the meantime, Giuliani’s media people will focus group test the negative pieces to see which are the most effective to use against the apparent candidate emerging to challenge Rudy in Florida.

Flap has been saying for months that the GOP campaign will be won or lost with the Florida media war between Giuliani and one or more other candidates.

And, Rudy will go NEGATIVE in Florida - because it works.

Stay tuned…….

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Giuliani California Campaign Watch: Call Out for Telephone Volunteers in Thousand Oaks, California

Rudy Giuliani Video Watch: Rudy Reacts to Bhutto Assassination

Rudy Giuiani Watch: National Television Ad - “FREEDOM”; Update: Rudy Giuliani’s Statement on the Assassination of Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto

Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani

Cross Posted from the FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog

Rudy Giuliani leaves Barnes-Jewish Hospital Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, in St. Louis. The Republican presidential hopeful, who spent the night in the St. Louis hospital with flu-like symptoms, left with a clean bill of health according to his campaign.

Time Magazine screams: Is Giuliani Facing Free Fall?

The answer is no.

But is there evidence to support this opinion? Flap found two excellent pieces today that not only accurately describe the Giuliani campaign’s strategy but also outline scenarios for Rudy’s nomination.

Assessing Giuliani’s Strategy

The most important insight, I think, still holds: delegates matter. And Giuliani is in a position to exit February 5 with the most delegates. For now. His biggest threat remains a Mitt Romney, having won Iowa and New Hampshire and opened his checkbook… which is why, despite the downside risk, the Giuliani campaign is comfortable with Mike Huckabee’s rise.

• Are Mike Huckabee and now John McCain “perfect” foils for Rudy in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina?
• Are Huck and Mac the Romney stoppers and the absorbers of costly financed negative attacks by Mitt?
• Will these negative media attacks drive them all into unfavorable opinion territory by the middle of January?

Jim Geraghty over at National Review: Giuliani’s Nomination Path - Tougher, But Not Blocked

Under that scenario, nobody’s the frontrunner by the time they get to Florida, which Rudy is still leading right now. Everybody could (and arguably should) have a win under their belts. In addition to each one of his rivals controling a faction of the pie, they’ll probably have higher disapproval numbers, as they will have been the target of attacks for several weeks as Giuliani faded into the background.

Since he surged, Huckabee has been getting much tougher coverage, as any reader of this blog has seen. Romney’s still getting hit from a lot of different directions - his dad and Martin Luther King, his immigration positions, the usual flip-flop charges, etc. If McCain wins New Hampshire, you’ll see him get coverage that’s much tougher. His foes will start reciting immigrationdeal-campaignfinancereform-gangof14-votedagainstBushtaxcuts over and over again. You’ll see every picture he’s ever taken with Ted Kennedy dominating the airwaves. If Fred Thompson surges, he’ll get knocked around, too. And there’s still some possibility of the murder-suicide effect; if any candidate goes too negative on another, the mud splashes on both of them.

So it’s possible that by the time we get to Florida, most of the other Big Five have won only one or two states and has higher negatives from several tough primary battles. Rudy can swoop in, win delegate-rich Florida, and then try to execute his big state Super Duper Tuesday strategy, and pound home, electability, electability, electability…

It’s not a perfect path to the nomination, but right now, no one has one…

And, let’s look at the numbers, particularly the GOP delegates Giuliani would pick up on Super Duper Tuesday and Florida.

Finance co-chairs Roy Bailey and Jim Lee noted in an e-mail to supporters that in the 25 states where polls have been conducted and are scheduled to vote before Feb. 5, Giuliani leads in 13 - far more than any other candidate.
The numbers are important, because with each state victory comes a share of the 1,191 delegate votes a GOP hopeful will need to capture his party’s nomination.

If Giuliani wins all 13 of the primary states where he now leads in the polls and that vote by Feb. 5, he’ll collect 758 delegates, a Daily News analysis found.

That’s roughly two-thirds of the delegates needed to win the nomination, and more than four times the 170 delegates that Giuliani’s closest rival, Huckabee, would amass by Feb. 5 if he wins everywhere he is leading now.

Is the Giuliani strategy one of patience and attrition? You bet.

It may not be a perfect path to the nomination and Rudy will undoubtedly take some hits over the next few days in the polls. But, somehow, Flap thinks that after Christmas this race will start a whole new inning for the Giuliani campaign in their 29 inning game - watch them score.

Stay tuned…..

The Byrds–I Feel A Whole Lot Better

All eyes tomorrow will be on Mitt Romney and his Mormon Faith Speech: Faith in America. The direction and even the survivability of Mitt’s campaign will hinge on the speech. It could be the beginning of the end or the beginning of a revival.

Mitt now trails Baptist preacher and politician Mike Huckabee in Iowa and his poll numbers have been falling in other southern states where evangelical Christians make up more of the GOP voter base.

But, Romney is NO JACK KENNEDY.

If Romney missteps he is done.

Rudy Giuliani has lost his front runner status in the Rasmussen Daily Presidential tracking poll to Mike Huckabee but continues to lead the national poll averages and in major delegate-rich large states like California and Florida.

It is conceivable that Giuliani would have to wait until Florida (“RUDY”S FIREWALL”) before registering an election win. He will finish no higher than third in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He may finish second in Michigan and might win in Nevada.

But, this is the best he will be able to do.

However, if Romney collapses tomorrow or in the next week from the Mormon scrutiny and MSM harping masquerading as anti-Mormon bigotry the Mayor MIGHT finish second in New Hampshire and could win Michigan.

South Carolina will be the grand fight between Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee. And, might be the end of one or both of them.

The Mayor can wait and has the resources to do so. His strategy has been correct.

The race remains fluid and it comes down to College Station, Texas tomorrow to shake up the race.

Now, do you understand the video above?

Patrick Ruffini just e-mailed Flap and said the speech will be carried here live on the internet at 10:30 AM EST or 7:30 AM Pacific time.

Stay tuned……

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Rudy Giuliani Watch: “ONE HOUR” On Air In New Hampshire

Rudy Giuliani California Poll Watch: Rudy 32% McCain 18% Huckabee 14% Romney 14% Thompson 13%

Mitt Romney Watch: “Sanctuary Mansion” Landscapers Fired by Romney

Rudy Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy 25% Huckabee 16% McCain 15% Thompson 15% Romney 12% Paul 4% in Latest USA Today/Gallup GOP Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Huckabee on “FAIR TAX”

Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Meaning of Fiscal Conservatism

Rudy Giuliani Watch: New Hampshire Troopers Endorse Rudy

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani smiles as departs after a breakfast address to a political group in Bedford, N.H.., Monday Nov. 26, 2007.

Rudy Giuliani FINALLY goes on the offensive against Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.

In a big strategic shift, Rudy Giuliani hammered Mitt Romney’s record Sunday on three fronts, saying it was time to “take the mask off and take a look at what kind of governor was he.”

Using some of the toughest language of his campaign, Giuliani, in an interview with Politico, slammed Romney on health care, crime and taxes. At the same time he portrayed the one-time moderate as a hypocrite on a host of social issues who lives “in a glass house.” It was easily the most sweeping attack Giuliani has delivered against Romney in this campaign.

Rudy is right and there are plenty of issues to draw upon for television and radio ads:

• Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Kathe M. Tuttman appointment
• Flip on Abortion
• Campaign finance reform
• Flip on Gay Marriage
• Lied about hunting
• Scientology book one of his favorites
• Poor Mitt’s Dog
• Jay Garrity Trooper Flap
• The Robert Lichfield FLAP
• None of Mitt’s five adult sons had served in the military
• Health Care 2.0 Flip Flop
• PhoneyFred.org Flap
• Tax FLIP
• Log Cabin Ad Flip
• Lawyer’s Test for National Security

Mitt Romney is ONLY doing well in the polls in states where he has been “on air” with television ads without being contested. He flounders in all of the rest and Rudy is beating him.

Watch the Giuliani campaign to start airing “FLIP-FLOP Mitt ads and other ads highlighting Romney’s oddities and inconsistencies.

Stay tuned……

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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Calls on Mitt Romney to Explain Judicial Appointment

Rudy Giuliani Watch: “Challenges” On Air In New Hampshire

Giuliani Nevada Poll Watch: Rudy Beating Romney by 7 Points

Former New York Mayor and Presidential candidate and Mrs. Rudy Giuliani in Simi Valley, California, May 3, 2007. Standing next to the Mayor is Anaheim, California Mayor Curt Pringle.

Robert Novak has an excellent piece outlining the broad base of support Rudy Giuliani demonstrates in California.

Curt Pringle, the conservative mayor of Anaheim and onetime speaker of the California Assembly, is a pro-life Republican who endorsed pro-choice Rudy Giuliani for president last March and since then has been actively engaged in his campaign. After conversations with Giuliani, Pringle takes at face value the former New York mayor’s pledge to nominate Supreme Court justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. That reassurance on abortion makes it possible for Pringle and many other prominent California Republicans to pursue an ambitious political design.

Pringle and the state’s other Giuliani supporters want to bring California back to relevance in selecting the Republican nominee and electing the president. They resent that the nation’s most populous state is presumed to follow Iowa’s and New Hampshire’s lead in picking presidents. They resent California being consigned as a general election backwater, conceded to the Democrats. Giuliani is seen by Pringle resurrecting California as a significant player for both the nomination and election.

A solid win for Giuliani on February 5th will put Rudy over the top for the GOP nomination.

Flap continues to wonder when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Rudy. Before Christmas or after the first of the year when mail in ballots become available for California voters?

Stay tuned…….

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Rudy Giuliani Wins GOP Debate According to Florida Focus Group

Rudy Giuliani Watch: “You Have Nothing to Fear from Me”

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Competitive in Iowa?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy’s Northeast GOP Delegate Advantage

Giuliani CNN Poll Watch: Rudy Up By 8 Points Over Thompson

Texas Governor Rick Perry Endorses Rudy Giuliani for President

Rudy to Hillary - What is Your Experience to be President?

The Flap began last week and MoveOn.org began airing this ad in Iowa Monday.

But, will the ad have the desired effect of “poisoning the well” with GOP voters? Or will the ad highlight the argument that Rudy is the most electable GOP candidate against Hillary Clinton?

Listen to Rudy’s response:

Flap thinks the ad as bogus as it is - Giuliani quit the Iraq Study Group when it became apparent he could not keep the time committment and the major conflict this would have on his Presidential campaign HELPS Rudy in Iowa and with national fundraising.

Stay tuned……..

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Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire - Rudy Playing Catch Up with Romney

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Vs Hillary and Hillary’s Surrogate - MoveOn.org

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Hillary Clinton Smeared General Petraeus - The New York Times Ad

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Hillary Clinton Smeared General Petraeus

New York Times = Left Wing Fringe Rag

Rudy Giuliani’s Road to the White House

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy - Hillary Clinton Spewing Political Venom

Giuliani Florida Poll Watch: Rudy 28% Thompson 17% Romney 11%

Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Continues Lead in Latest Washington Post-ABC News Poll

Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters outside a fund raiser as Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Mich. listens in Detroit, Monday, Aug. 27 2007

Sorry Chris but talking about a Florida FIREWALL for Rudy is NOT NEWS.

Here is how the campaign breaks down:

• Iowa goes to Romney and Rudy finishes back in the pack
• Nevada goes to Romney
• New Hampshire is up for grabs and Rudy may win or finish second. Romney will do well. McCain will make a last stand.
• South Carolina: Rudy will contend there but the state is a natural for Fred Thompson. Romney’s campaign momentum will stall in South Carolina. After South Carolina McCain will drop out endorsing Rudy - in any event his voters will go to Rudy.
• Michigan: Rudy will contend if they move the primary up
• Florida: Rudy wins with Fred Thompson second. There will be an all out media campaign to not only win the primary but also for the coming general election. When Thompson loses he curtails campaign operations.
• Super Duper Tuesday: Rudy wraps up the nomination with wins in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Illinois.

The “LEAKED Powerpoint presentation” is no strategy memo - the strategy has been obvious form the start.

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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Leads Thompson By 15 Points in Latest Fox News Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: “Leave My Family Alone” Rudy Tells Derry New Hampshire Mother Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien Part 2

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Retreating on Gay Issues?

Giuliani Notes: Florida - Rudy 30% Thompson 17% Romney 15% McCain 7% in Latest Rasmussen GOP Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani - McCain Ticket?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: “Leave My Family Alone” Rudy Tells Derry New Hampshire Mother Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien

Giuliani Notes: Florida - Rudy 34% Thompson 18% Romney 10% McCain 8%in Latest Strategic Vision Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: California Field Poll Has Rudy With 21 Point Lead