Politics

It's Giuliani's state, for a day

With his rivals taking day off, the GOP hopeful has Florida to himself. He's banking on a win.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 21, 2008

Rudy Giuliani, listening to a question at the Sun City Center Community Hall Sunday morning, has all but bet his campaign on a victory in Florida.
	[John Pendygraft | Times]

NEW PORT RICHEY - With Democrats ignoring the state and other leading Republican contenders taking Sunday off, Rudy Giuliani had Florida to himself for one last day, hoping to make a last stand to salvage his hopes for the presidency.

In stops in Tampa, New Port Richey and then along the Interstate 4 corridor, Giuliani sought to throw an already unpredictable Republican primary fight into further chaos. He has all but bet his campaign on a victory in Florida.

"The people of Florida have their own minds and their own opinions and their own ideas," the former mayor of New York told about 500 supporters at an afternoon rally in New Port Richey.

Though having claimed only one delegate to the GOP's nominating convention through votes in six states, Giuliani is one of four candidates entering Florida this week with a realistic chance to win.

According to an average of statewide polls by the independent politics Web site Real Clear Politics, Sen. John McCain leads with 23.2 percent, followed closely by Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

McCain, coming off a victory in South Carolina on Saturday, is in Miami this morning and winds up in Jacksonville tonight for a fundraiser.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has six events planned today, starting with a rally in Jacksonville and ending with a pair of stops on the Space Coast.

Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, spent Sunday attending a fundraiser at actor Chuck Norris' ranch in Navasota, Texas. He was expected to be in Florida today, though his schedule had not yet been set.

Giuliani will spend part of today attending a $1,000 per person reception hosted by Tampa developer and Republican fundraiser Al Austin.

With such a large and expensive battleground, the type of retail politicking common in earlier states will largely give way to made-for-TV hangar rallies and photo opportunities intended to make the most of local media coverage.

About 50 Giuliani supporters gathered inside the historic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City on Sunday, as the former New York mayor conducted a 9 a.m. live interview with George Stephanopoulos for This Week on ABC.

"Good morning, George, how are you?" Giuliani boomed. Stephanopoulos was invisible and inaudible to others in the room, but people listened, smiled and nodded behind Giuliani as he answered questions apparently about tax cuts, foreign policy and immigration.

When Giuliani was finished, the group applauded. He then chatted with the crowd for a few minutes before he was whisked away to a rally at Sun City Center.

About 250 people, mostly senior citizens, gathered in the large community center and began to stir when they recognized Hollywood actor Jon Voight, who was there to introduce and support Giuliani.

Giuliani took the stage and gave a short speech that mainly dealt with cutting and simplifying taxes. He answered questions about how he felt about gun ownership, tort reform, illegal immigrants and Social Security.

Perhaps his loudest applause came when he said that anyone who wants to be a U.S. citizen "should have to speak English, read English and write English."

In New Port Richey, Giuliani targeted McCain for never running a government, and for opposing President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. "We need someone in Washington who hasn't been breathing Washington air too long," Giuliani said.

McCain responded during a news conference in South Carolina, reminding voters that Giuliani once broke from his party to endorse Democratic New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

"Everybody knows how I was part of the Reagan revolution where we had tax cuts when, frankly, Mayor Giuliani was supporting a Democrat for governor for the state of New York."

McCain also chided Giuliani for his 0-6 record, saying: "If someone hasn't run in a primary, I can understand why they would attack the front-runner."

Florida can change everything, Giuliani supporters said Sunday.

"It's starts here," said Richard Mortak, a Giuliani supporter attending the New Port Richey rally at the Spartan Manor banquet hall. "Florida is where Rudy explodes."

Kevin Thomas, a 53-year-old investment adviser from New Port Richey, said he hopes so.

"As someone from Florida, I'm happy to see him here," Thomas said. "I don't see anybody else here.

"I hope Florida works for him," he added. "I know it's a big gamble if it doesn't."

Times staff writer Emily Nipps contributed to this report, which also contains information from the Associated Press. Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2273.

[Last modified January 20, 2008, 23:13:10]