While much continues to be made of Hillary being the first woman presidential nominee and Barack the first African-American, little has been said of Rudy Giuliani being the first Italian-American presidential nominee of either party and the first non-WASP GOP nominee. Rudy is about as close as we'll get these days to a "liberal Republican" nominee - liberal on social issues, moderate on fiscal matters. Think John Lindsay, Bill Scranton, Nelson Rockefeller and Jacob Javits. In Mass., Frank Sargent, William Weld, Paul Cellucci along with Leverett Saltonstall and Edward W. Brooke III. Liberal Republicans were all but driven out of the GOP national political picture by Nixon's 1968 Southern Strategy that cultivated support from white Southern conservative Democrats and, more recently, by Pat Buchanan. Paul Celluci, former Mass. Treasurer Joe Malone and Rudy were recently photographed together and described as being a trio of pro-choice Republicans. True enough, but also a trio of Italian-American Republicans (Malone, despite his Irish-sounding surname, is Italian-American). Giuliani is able to draw votes away from Democrats - the attached link indicates that while Clinton gets 18% of Republican women, she loses 20% of Democratic men. Liberal Democratic men would get in Rudy most of what they'd get out of Hillary - pro-choice, pro gay rights, pro immigration reform. Conservative Democratic men may choose to overlook Rudy's less-than-firm positions on choice and gun control (he's indicated he'd appoint conservative judges and waffled on gun control) while looking at the hard-line former federal prosecutor who was tough on criminals, fiscally moderate tax-cutter, Italian-American mayor of NYC during September 11, tough-minded and strong-willed on terrorism and foreign policy. Add someone like Mike Huckabee to satisfy the raging Religious Right, and the "liberal Republican" Rudy takes votes away from Hillary without losing any to her. Also, Rudy would have significant appeal to the suburban voter.
When Rudy announced his US Senate candidacy from New York in 2000, Hillary reportedly gleefully clapped her hands in eager anticipation of a spirited and lively contest. Still recall a photo of the 2 of them - Rudy in a tux, Hillary in formal dress - shaking hands elegantly from a respectful distance, each leaning slightly backwards with heads turned up, gazing at each other warily and looking proud as peacocks. When Rudy abruptly withdrew his candidacy, Hillary was reportedly in disbelief. Could have the match in '08. Be careful what you wish for.
