I suspect that TPM Readers are as divided in their support of the candidates as much of the public seems to be. But as we get ready to kick off the 2008 election season I think it’s an appropriate moment to give thanks for something we can all be thankful for, even across our political divisions and support for contending candidates — that’s right, the collapsing campaign of Rudy Giuliani.
In Iowa, where admittedly Rudy hasn’t made much of a run at it, he now appears on track to come in last place among the major candidates. And, to be clear, I’m here defining ‘major’ rather generously as including Ron Paul. In other words, sixth place.
In New Hampshire, Rudy is similarly dropping like a stone. He may still come in third ahead of Mike Huckabee, though they now seem to be roughly tied there.
Nationally, Rudy appears either tied with Huckabee or in a three or four way tie with Huckabee, Romney and McCain, depending on which of the very most recent polls you look at. And expect that number (to borrow the Army aphorism) not to survive first contact with his drubbing in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Mark Steyn, normally known as America’s designated BritCanadian-expat War on Terror chieftain, points to the key trend for Rudy in a post at NRO. In whatever state or jurisdiction, Rudy’s number plummet more or less in line with the imminence of the election. Which is another way of saying that the more voters focus on the election, the worse it gets for Rudy.
Even in his ‘firewall’ states like Florida, Rudy’s lead is rapidly diminishing.
The truth is that more than anyone in the race — even more than Romney — Rudy needs the primaries to happen as quickly as possible. Everyday that goes by he gets less popular.
Late Update: To give thanks properly, and see what the country has avoided, you should probably take a moment to watch this short video on Rudy’s pro-apocalypse foreign policy advisors …
