NPR: Giuliani and the Robertson Endorsement: A Sort of Focus Group

Giuliani and the Robertson Endorsement: A Sort of Focus Group

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On the air today, I surmised that Pat Robertson endorsing Rudy Giuliani might hurt Giuliani in the primary. My logic was that one of Rudy's main selling points to Republicans was that he has the best chance of beating Hillary Clinton. He mentions this quite often.

But the kind of moderate swing voters who elected and re-elected Giuliani mayor (he even carried Manhattan in 1997) will be turned off by his getting into bed with Robertson. John McCain can now make the point that he can beat Hillary, and indeed he has been doing this.

Now, perhaps McCain can convincingly argue the he can even challenge Rudy in New York and California, such is the disconnect between the values of those voters and the values of so-called values voters.

Such is my theory that I focus-grouped it on three individuals who identify as moderate Republicans, who have no love for the religious right, who say they might very well vote for Rudy.

I asked them all if the Robertson endorsement was a big problem -- or just one of the hoops Rudy has to jump through to get the job?

Guess what? My theory melted on contact.

Two said, essentially, that it's just what you have to do to get elected. One of the reasons they like Rudy is that he is a practical guy and a practical guy lines up endorsements from evangelical leaders in order to get the nomination.

The third fellow (Hi, Dad) I spoke with says he has very much soured on Giuliani already. Liked him as mayor, but doesn't recognize the arguments he's making on the campaign trail. To this unnamed individual with the same last name and half the genetic code of your correspondent, one of the biggest selling points was Rudy's intelligence -- the way in a news conference or on his radio show he would lay out convincing arguments -- but on the campaign trail he seems to be embracing slogans and turning into a demagogue.

What about, I asked, the prospect of having an Italian American in the White House? Answer: "I'd be proud, but you have to do more that have a vowel at the end of your last name to earn my vote." Hear that, Obama?

Mike Pesca

2:04 PM ET | 11- 8-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I just came across The Bryant Park Project and you will have to deal with my reaction about the show and not really about your report on Giuliani. First, let's be clear that journalism in this country has gotten about as far off track as its government. When the country really needs the kind of solid investigative reporting that has been a hallmark of NPR in the past, it offers us this: A golly-gee let's laugh about the news radio show that is already available on FM radio. How has a report about Rosie O'Donnell gotten on to NPR? What are you people thinking? You're dumbing down radio in an effort to appeal to younger listeners. Young does not equal dumb. I am not interested in the style of your program but its substance. I've heard it enough to know that style has yet again trumped substance in American journalism. You might want to check the BBC's listening statistics....

Sent by joe | 2:54 PM ET | 11-08-2007

Such anger and bitterness Joe. I think you need to listen to a full episode of the BPP, revel in its highbrow journalistic wit and charm, and let all those pent-up negative emotions get washed away by Luke and Alison's poorly written pre-ramble banter . . . ;)

Anyway, if you want bland, humorless (though also highly informative) news "The News Hour With Jim Lerher" is your ticket. A lot of us however like to spice up our news diet of (drum role please) The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, and The McClatchy Newspapers with some XOF.

And just for the record, it looks like Sen. Clintoni might also have a hard time getting a vote from Mike's skeptical old man. . .

Sent by Will G | 6:34 PM ET | 11-08-2007

Joe is right, dammit; there is no room on the radio for entertainment! Now, excuse me while I go kick these kids off my lawn. grumble...grumble...harrumph

Sent by John | 10:27 PM ET | 11-08-2007

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