Giuliani looks electable to GOP

Washington Post:

With many Republicans increasingly pessimistic about holding the White House in 2008, electability has become former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's most appealing attribute.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll of the Republican field shows Giuliani with a sizeable lead over his three principal rivals. The former mayor was the choice of 37 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, well ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain and the still-undeclared Fred Thompson, the former senator from Tennessee, virtually tied at 16 and 15 percent, respectively. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ran fourth with 8 percent.

Giuliani's frontrunner status is fueled by a broad-based perception that he is the party's most electable candidate.
Nearly half of Republicans believe Giuliani is their party's best chance of winning in November 2008; that is three or four times higher than the percentage mentioning other candidates. Democrats and independents also said Giuliani would represent the Republicans' best shot at holding onto the White House.

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At 16 percent, McCain is at his lowest point of the campaign after a month in which he reported that his campaign was nearly out of money and his campaign manager, chief strategist, finance director and communications director -- among others -- announced their resignations.

Despite his problems, McCain has vowed to stay in the race, saying recently he could think of nothing other than "contracting a fatal disease" that would force him to quit. If he were to leave the race, however, Giuliani would be the primary beneficiary, according to the new poll.

Thompson, meanwhile, continues to be competitive as an unannounced candidate. His campaign now does not plan to make his presidential bid official until after Labor Day. And Romney continues to lag in the national numbers despite having moved to the top of the field in some Iowa and New Hampshire state polls.

Giuliani leads among both men and women, but his lead is significantly wider among women. Forty-one percent of women back his candidacy, compared with 32 percent of men.

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I think Giuliani appeals to the security moms. He comes across as someone who will fight for them and that should be an asset against Democrats who are running on a run and hide ticket. Thompson's dithering start is going to hurt him at some point. I don't think Romney's early lead in Iowa and New Hampshire will be significant this election. Remember Pat Robertson and Pat Buchanan? With Florida and other large states having early elections they will be much more important to the selection process and Rudy is in good shape there.