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Giuliani to Drop Out, Endorse McCain

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January 29, 2008 8:57 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Rick Klein Report: Rudy Giuliani will board a plane to California on Wednesday morning, as planned. But, sources tell ABC News, once there, instead of participating in the GOP debate, he will drop out of the presidential race and endorse Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Giuliani came down to greet supporters at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. Responding to a friendly cheer from the audience, Giuliani laughed and quoted "that famous philosopher Yogi Berra, 'It's not over until it's over.'"

But it appeared over.

"Like most Americans, I love competition. I don't back down. . . but there must always be a purpose," Giuliani told supporters as his poor third-place showing became clear on the widescreen TVs. "Elections are about a lot more than candidates."

Negotiations between the two campaigns had been ongoing as Florida returns came in, with ABC News and other organizations projecting a McCain win in the Sunshine State.

"We ran a campaign that was uplifting," Giuliani said, not officially leaving the race but speaking in the past tense. "The responsibility of leadership doesn't end with a single campaign."

Giuliani has made clear throughout the campaign that if he weren't running, he would most likely be supporting McCain for president.

January 29, 2008 in Dodd, Chris, Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (30)

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Arrivaderchi Rudy!

Posted by: TC | Jan 29, 2008 10:31:31 PM

I guess the ride he got for appearing to be a heroic mayor for one day during his tenure is finally over. Bye, bye. Don't let the door hit you in the buttocks.

Posted by: w_roos | Jan 29, 2008 10:37:33 PM

Religious conservates: Google Ron Paul. Never voted for a tax increase. Against enforcing UN resolutions with US tax dollars, military personnell. Pro-gun rights. Pro-life. I remember the days when conservatives stood for these things. But then the party of Reagan has now become the party of "Big-government Bush." Come home, look up Ron Paul.

Posted by: wake up! | Jan 29, 2008 10:39:09 PM

One must ask themselves...why does McCain want/need to be President so badly? Let's face it...being President is nothing more than satisfaction for a huge ego. The moneys not worth a flip. Most of these guys have more money than brains. The aggrevation is above and beyond the call of duty. They say they want to serve their country but leave it in worse shape than they found it. Somebody please tell me...why? McCain just wants one more chance. He's too old for much else. Romney wants to show us how he made his money. Huckabee needs a job. Ron Paul is fanatical moron. Hillary is just plain crazy and socialist. Obama is just a well spoken rookie with big dreams, and Edwards is simply full of himself and crap! Who's left? All I can say is we are in deep doo-doo!

Posted by: VV | Jan 29, 2008 10:42:41 PM

Don't worry. If things get too tough you can always join the Army and expand the American Empire. Which is what they're counting on.

Posted by: wake up! | Jan 29, 2008 11:20:39 PM

rmberryman; The only change Romney would
provide would be a Democrat victory in
November by Hillary Clinton or
Barack Obama!
Oh I forgot, Romney does "change" his
positions on the issues frequently,
depending on which way the wind is
blowing!

Posted by: reaganfan | Jan 29, 2008 11:56:40 PM

I feel betrayed being rudely bad-mouthed by someone calling himself a "reaganfan" when Ronald Reagan was one of my two favorite Presidents. (My other favorite was John F. Kennedy.) Well, it doesn't matter, because it's shaping up to where NEITHER side has a candidate I'd want to vote for. I have voted since 1958 and never skipped even one, but this may be my first.

Posted by: rmberryman | Jan 30, 2008 12:20:52 AM

First off, Ron Paul is more of a libertarian than a Republican. Second off, McCain voted against the Bush Tax Cuts, did McCain-Feingold, which limited donations to campaigns, McCain-Kennedy, which would give amnesty to illegal immigrants, and McCain-Lieberman, which was an energy cap-and-trade bill that would have increased energy costs for the average Florida family of four by $1,000. I don't know how he won Florida. Huckabee has no chance of winning. This race is between Romney and McCain, and Romney is way more conservative than McCain. Vote for Romney.

Posted by: The True Conservative | Jan 30, 2008 3:45:42 PM

Rudy Giuliani was a Democrat and an Independent in the 1970s. Why is running on the Republican ticket? John Kerry seriously considered John McCain to run as his Vice president. McCain said he would, but John Kerry chose Edwards anyways. John McCain is also close to Hillary Clinton, along with a number of other Democrats. He is hardly any better than a Democrat. Mitt Romney 2008!

Posted by: A Republican | Jan 30, 2008 4:02:20 PM

Mitt Romney is the only Republican canadite with big bucks in his wallet. He will be the only person capable of doing hard core campaining in every state, which will cause him to win. Like him or hate him, Mitt Romney will become the Republican Nominee. If you want the Republicans to win, start campaigning for Romney. The only reason that he is behind in national polls is because he isn't well known enough. He will be able to beat the Democrats in the end.

Posted by: Come Back to Reality! | Jan 30, 2008 4:12:56 PM

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