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Politics
GOP fundraiser jumps from Romney to Giuliani
By ADAM C. SMITH
Published March 22, 2007
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[AP Photo]
Rudy Giuliani goes out to catch the first pitch before the Yankees-Pirates spring training game Sunday.
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In another sign of the intense Florida presidential campaign jockeying, a top Republican fundraiser is jumping ship from the Mitt Romney campaign to Rudy Giuliani's. Richard Blankenship, a Jacksonville area investment banker and President Bush's former ambassador to the Bahamas, said he resigned from Romney's Florida finance team after becoming convinced Giuliani had broader appeal and said other Romney fundraisers in Florida could do the same. Blankenship, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative and social moderate, has raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for Republican efforts and frequently loaned his Cessna airplane to Republicans. He called Romney a wonderful person, but said he had concerns about the former Massachusetts governor's shifts to the right on a number of social issues. "The changes in core beliefs gave rise to some concerns. You have to have an anchor in life," he said of Romney. "Mayor Giuliani has a firm, secure hold on his moral compass and how that effects his platform, rather than change to satisfy special interests in our party. The Republican Party needs to broaden its appeal beyond a few special interests." Sally Bradshaw, a senior Romney adviser, said Romney "is clearly the true conservative in this race, and it's unfortunate that Blankenship has made a decision to go in another direction. At the end of the day, we hope to have him return to the fold." Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727893-8241 or asmith@sptimes.com.
[Last modified March 22, 2007, 01:48:56]
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by Frank
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03/23/07 04:05 PM
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Neither has what it takes,Giuliani has no ground to stand when it comes to moral issues, the other lacks experience and is inconsistent in his views, changing it depending where he is! I sill would give Romney a better chance!
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by Brian
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03/23/07 11:29 AM
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Being in the right place at the right time still requires leadership skills. Skills that Nagin obviously lacked. I am certain that any of the top 3 Republican candidates could have come off as leaders in NY. Leadership skills = Abortion stance??????
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by Brant
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03/23/07 10:16 AM
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People who say that Rudy is solely running on his leadership during/after 9-11 don't understand his role in turning NYC around. He did that with conservative ideas -- i.e., tough law enforcement, reducing taxes, etc.
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by Mike
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03/23/07 09:09 AM
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Saying Rudy was just in the right place at the right time means Nagin and Katrina should have been different. It takes leadership and skills. Romney was prolife -- pro-choice -- prolife depending on what crowd he is trying to win. He's a chameleon.
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by RC
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03/23/07 12:26 AM
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Voters will see Mitt is the real deal. He is so far the only one to put out real policy, sign pledges, and has significant endorsement.
Giuliani is a hateful crook, see the video of him making fun of a handicap man? Rudy's a vile cancer on the GOP.
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by Brian
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03/22/07 03:26 PM
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Didnt Romney "lead" the turnaround of the Olympics.Rudy is simply exploiting the idea of serendipity. He was simply in a place at a time (9/11) when any of the candidates could have come off as a leader. Romney could have done the same, maybe better
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by Michael
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03/22/07 02:03 PM
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Rudy is excellent. Politically, he is a leader. Romney is a follower. Rudy is the only Republican who can save America.
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by Sean
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03/22/07 12:47 PM
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Im really interested about this Guiliani moral anchor. Family? Maried three times/ needs the new upgrade after it gets old every few years. Abortion? yea sure. But hey, lets keep runningfilm of walking rudy with the falling building backdrop.
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by James
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03/22/07 10:35 AM
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I agree with you all. In fact , I think Rudy's campaign is starting to fall apart. Then again Blankenship is not a guy that moves markets, political or economic, so it really doesn't matter.
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by Cameron
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03/22/07 09:37 AM
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No anchor? What about the whole Gay Marriage ordeal? Romney is completely committed to preserving the family as it should be, and he always has been.
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by david
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03/22/07 08:03 AM
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A man married 3 times-has moral anchor? Any women who votes for Mayor G should be hounded out of the voters booth. If one can not respect marriage-public will will follow suit-divorced frm Mayor G's concerns and policy. After 8ys bushes-no 'G'
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by JT
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03/22/07 07:28 AM
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Rudy is a slippery slope in the primary. If the Recorpublicans push away their conservative base the end result will not be the same as Crist experienced with Gallagher. Conservative base 1 Corporate Fat Cats 10.Has to change or Presidents party will
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by David Glick
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03/22/07 07:13 AM
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Is the guy an idiot? What sort of 'moral compass' does he think Giuliani has? It is rather obvious that Blankenship is simply an opportunist who wants to buy favor with whomever he thinks will win the presidency. If the polls change, so will he.
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