| Though I wrote a diary a month ago reporting that Giuliani would challenge Gillibrand (based on another leak to the Daily News), that appears to have been more wishful thinking by desperate NY Republicans.
Giuliani obviously prefers the lifestyle of a multi-miilionaire "security consultant" and cable TV commentator to the campaign trail (as was evident in his first-to-last presidential run) and the prospect of being a junior Senator with no seniority.
He presumably also took Gillibrand's measure, and understood that a campaign against her would include millions-worth of truthful negative ads about his many personal and political scandals.
The bit about Giuliani being a hit on the GOP fund-raising circuit suggests that the only political job he's really interested in is President.
Not gonna happen, but it does explain why he really doesn't want to be a no-account Senator or the governor of a state in fiscal crisis during 2011 and 2012.
With Giuliani out, the only big-name Republican who might challenge Gillibrand is former Gov. George Pataki, who has some of the same disincentives (big-money, no-heavy-lifting job, some political scandals, absurd presidential ambition).
Pataki does not poll as well as Giuliani, largely because he had worn out his welcome after three terms, especially with conservative Republicans.
After those two well-known has-beens, the other potential GOP candidates (for both offices) are people lucky to have single-digit statewide name recognition.
This is good news for Gillibrand, even though I believe she would have beaten Giuliani silly.
She's a vigorous campaigner and fund-raiser, and has been doing an excellent job as Senator that New Yorkers will appreciate when they learn of it.
And it's good news for other Democratic candidates in NY, who will benefit if voters continue across the A line after voting with the vast majority for Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gillibrand.
It's good news also for other Democratic Senate candidates around the country because resources (DSCC and other) that might have been spent on a Gillibrand-Giuliani race will be available for important contests in Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, etc.
So, thanks Rudy, for the early Christmas present. |
