Once a Sure Thing for Giuliani, Florida Up For Grabs
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani ignored the early states to concentrate on the Florida primary, set for Jan. 29th. Even as he racked up single-digit vote totals in states like Iowa, Michigan and Nevada, and not much better in the other states, his campaign continued to insist that once he won in Florida, he would leap back into the national spotlight and challenge for the front-runner title.
Then again, maybe not.
A new survey out from Rasmussen Reports shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with a small lead over John McCain, with Giuliani close behind in third at 19 percent. Several other recent polls have shown McCain with a lead over Romney or Giuliani. Giuliani has lead only one recent poll, and that by a point. And one of the state's most influential papers, the Orlando Sentinel, came out with a strong endorsement for McCain Sunday.
But it isn't only Florida were Giuliani has seen large leads evaporate. A new Siena College survey out today in his home state of New York shows that McCain has surged into a 12-point lead over the former mayor in his home state. Only a month ago, Giuliani lead McCain 48 percent to 15 percent. But the survey out today shows McCain with a 36-24 percent lead.
And a new WNBC/Marist poll shows McCain with a 15-point lead over Giuliani in New York.
The New York Daily News' "Daily Politics" blog reports that New York GOP chairman Joe Mondello stood by his guy, quoting Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over." He predicted that Giuliani would win Florida next Tuesday and then New York on Feb. 5.
2:18 PM ET | 01-21-2008 | permalink
