Rudy Vs. Hillary Gets Closer
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Rudy vs. Hillary in 2008?

Rudy vs. Hillary in 2008?

The possibility of this titanic political clash of the ages became more of a reality this past Monday when America's Mayor filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

New York City's former two-term mayor, who's had the whole political world holding its breath waiting for him to get into the 2008 presidential campaign, said after the FEC filing: "We still have to formally announce it and do a few more things, but this is about as close as you're going to get." Giuliani made his statement on the Fox News Channel.

To assure any doubting Thomases, he said later on Monday while campaigning for the GOP candidate in the special state senate election on Long Island: "I would bet that we are going ahead. We still have to think about a formal announcement and how to do it, but this is a pretty strong step."

The FEC filing placed Giuliani in the same category as his main GOP rivals, United States Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, as well as U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the front-runner in the bulging Democratic Party field.

When asked if he thought he could defeat Clinton if he became the official Republican standard bearer, Giuliani answered: "I'm in this to win. You do this because you believe that you can win the nomination of your party, and then you believe that you're the strongest candidate to win the election for your party."

Generally, in recent months Clinton has been the leader in most national polls over both her Democratic and Republican opponents. But Giuliani, despite being an unannounced candidate, was competitive in these surveys. This could change in future polls because of his changed candidate status.

The candidates closest to Clinton in these surveys have been U.S. Senator Barack Obama (Illinois) in her own party and McCain among the Republican candidates.

In a Quinnipiac University poll in New Jersey late last month, however, Giuliani led Clinton, 48 to 41 percent and McCain led the New York lawmaker by just a percentage point, 44 to 43 percent.

Also in recent weeks, Giuliani has been acting more like a candidate, freeing himself from his various private businesses, firming up campaign staff, always fundraising and campaigning in early caucus and primary states, such as New Hampshire and Iowa at the same time that Clinton was visiting the two states.

Sounding like a full-fledged candidate in New Hampshire, Giuliani declared, "We have to make government work again as Republicans, because I think we are the more practical party. And as I look at this, I believe there is something I could do about that."

In Iowa, he spoke of promoting peace and security overseas and also at home and referred to his 9/11 experience.

"I'll say that to you because I saw that happen in New York, and I made it happen," he declared.

"I did it. You can ultimately judge whatever I promise you and whatever positions I have by the things that I have done."

As for fundraising, Giuliani has some catching up to do. In a recent report, he said he had raised $1.4 million through the end of last year, which is far below what he said he would have raised. But with his new candidate status this should change, although the competition for campaign cash will surely be fierce from now until the election in November 2008.

Looking ahead, Giuliani has hired upwards of 50 campaign specialists as well as the Tarrance Group, a major Republican polling firm.

For months now, political analysts and pundits have forecast problems for Giuliani in connecting with the conservative wing of his party because of his stand as pro-abortion, pro-gun control and in favor of legalized immigration, among others.