I don’t know who else gets it or where else it gets published. But for the last month or two I’ve been on the mailing list for something called “Dick Morris Reports.” I didn’t sign up. Someone else must have. But I don’t know who since it’s on my personal email address. In any case, today’s just showed up and the message today is that John McCain is now officially no longer the frontrunner for the 2008 GOP nomination. At least in MorrisWorld, though I think I’d agree. Anyway, a few snippets.
Until now, the status of front-runner in the Republican primaries for president was jointly held by Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. McCain is clearly no longer the front-runner. In the last week or so, Giuliani has moved out to a clear lead.
* McCain’s latest fund-raising report, for the fourth quarter of 2006, was pathethic: He raised only $1.7 million and has only pocket change – $472,454 – on hand.
* A Fox News poll of Jan. 30-31 shows the former mayor jumping out to a significant lead among Republicans – 34 to 22 percent.
* A Gallup poll taken Jan. 25-28 shows Giuliani is better liked by Republicans than McCain -74 to 21 percent and more trusted to handle a crisis (68-20). Some 60 percent say Giuliani “better understands the problems of the average person,” against 33 percent who pick McCain. By 58-34, America’s Mayor is seen as the stronger leader.
Conversations with conservative activists also show a remarkable openness to supporting Giuliani – a belief that he can overcome (perhaps finesse) his pro-choice, pro-gun-control, pro-gay-rights and pro-immigration positions. Feelings seem bitterer over McCain’s role in Washington battles – his opposition to the Bush tax cuts and his support for “amnesty” for illegal immigrants and for campaign-finance reform.
I think even some DC folks are clueing in to the reality that Republican just don’t really like John McCain. But this why these are fun days not to be a Republican. Let’s run that sentence again: “Conversations with conservative activists also show a remarkable openness to supporting Giuliani – a belief that he can overcome (perhaps finesse) his pro-choice, pro-gun-control, pro-gay-rights and pro-immigration positions.”
Let’s be frank. On most or all of these issues, Giuliani is to the left of a good number of Democrats outside the northeast and the west coast.
Basically, for social conservatives, Giuliani is way on the wrong side of every signature, litmus issue. But there’s a “remarkable openness.” How about remarkably desparate? They just don’t have anybody in this race at the moment that’s catching any kind of fire in the nomination process and has any chance in a general.
