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Giuliani Rallies in Florida, Fails to Mention Iowa by Name

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January 03, 2008 6:57 PM

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds reports:  Instead of flying to Iowa today, Rudy Giuliani traveled to Florida, where he held an evening rally in Hialeah and failed to mention the Hawkeye State by name.

“Today and tonight begins a 29-state primary and caucus season,” Giuliani told a crowd of about 200 supporters at the Milander Auditorium, hinting at tonight’s Iowa caucus.

“Between now and Feb. 5, I believe there are 29 states that will be voting.  A large percentage of them on Feb. 5, and your primary is placed critically right in the middle of it, on Jan. 29,” he added.  “And your voting has already begun, and your early voting begins in about a week?  On the 14th.  So, this election is upon us.” 

But Giuliani was not shy in letting the crowd know how important Florida is to his chances to become the Republican presidential nominee. 

“It's about all 29 states, but once again, Florida is kind of in the middle and in a very, very important position,” Giuliani said.  “So I need your help.  I need your vote.  I need your support.  And I need you to go out and get other people who will vote for us.  And I know how good you are at that, because I’ve seen you pull us through.”

Giuliani was joined on stage by about a dozen Miami-area elected officials, and his wife Judith, who spoke to the crowd in Spanish, saying “es una noche muy bonita” – it is a very nice evening.

It may not be a very nice evening for the Giuliani campaign when it comes to the results in Iowa, but the campaign has worked hard to keep expectations for the nation’s first caucus, low.  To prove this point, campaign officials have been alerting the media that, according to their research, more Republicans have already requested absentee ballots in Florida than will participate in the caucuses tonight.

January 3, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (4)

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I live in Florida and I don't care what the polls say...Rudy will not even come close to winning Florida...I don't know who they are polling but his support is virtually nonexistent...even in the Panhandle.

Posted by: Cynical_Me | Jan 3, 2008 7:37:50 PM

GO RUDY!!!! :-)

Posted by: Rudy2008 | Jan 3, 2008 7:45:38 PM

Thank God for people like Cynical_Me, seriously; this sleazebag doesnt need to be within earshot of contention for the highest office in this country. The 9/11 is he doesn't 9/11 for 9/11, even when 9/11 the 9/11! Rudy 9/11!

Posted by: R9U11DY | Jan 3, 2008 10:44:47 PM

Gudy Riuliani apparently never learned that you can`t play in the big states if you`re afraid to play in the smaller states. On the other hand, his finish in Iowa is probably a good indication of his standing in the Repub. party, just as it is an indication of his appeal to the Independents who will decide this general election. Everyone now realizes that Bush has betrayed our trust and we surely are not about to place that trust in a sleazy opportunist like Giuliani.

Posted by: Luke | Jan 4, 2008 8:38:25 AM

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