In a World Gone Mad, Rudy Giuliani Is a Warm and Fuzzy Kind of Guy

Nick Gillespie | November 28, 2006

It's Giuliani time! At least when it comes to a recent Quinnipiac Poll about leading political figures and their "warmth" ratings, which appears to be interchangeable with "likeability." Respondents ranked on a zero to 100 scale, so the higher the score the better. The top 7 (out of 20), who pulled better than 50 percent:

1) Rudolph Giuliani — 64.2
2) Sen. Barack Obama — 58.8
3) Sen. John McCain — 57.7
4) Condoleezza Rice — 56.1
5) Bill Clinton — 55.8
6) Sen. Joseph Lieberman — 52.7
7) NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg — 51.1

John Kerry brought up the rear with a 39.6 rating. President Bush came in at 15, with a score of 43.8. Whole list and details here.

Comments

|11.28.06 @ 8:24AM|#

On a meaningless scale of one to 100, I give this poll a 5.

Todd Frye|11.28.06 @ 8:44AM|#

And I own www.GiulianiCampaign.Com... oh yeah.

|11.28.06 @ 8:46AM|#

Warmth ratings?

Is that like, who you'd most like to have a beer with?

My psychic powers tell me that the Republicans aren't going to run issue-heavy campaigns in 2008.

|11.28.06 @ 9:30AM|#

Yikes! Obama is the only person on the list that would not give me the heebie-jeebies if we were alone on an elevator.
Sigh, he's dreamy...
What was that? How about them Bears? Oh yeah! 9-2 Going all the way, yessir!

|11.28.06 @ 9:36AM|#

6) Sen. Joseph Lieberman - 52.7

The must be a lot of Droopy Dog fans out there, because I can't think of another explanation for a guy with that face and voice to be sixth.

|11.28.06 @ 10:56AM|#

jf got it right in the first comment. However, let me say here and now that I dislike Giuliani quite a bit and will not vote for him. Or drink with him. Unless he's buying :)

|11.28.06 @ 11:04AM|#

As a New Yorker, I'm appalled by any support for Guiliani anywhere. He handled 9/11 well, and his first term saw some positive stuff done, but 9/11 was honestly the first crisis that wasn't a (justified) PR disaster in years, and his policies remind me of what people are warning about McCain.

The spate of police shootings in his second term was caused by aggressive police tactics (which had, in high-crime areas, helped reduce crime in his first term, but were being applied in inappropriate situations once the city became safer in his second term). I see no reason for that particular attitude toward social problems to change for him--hit it with a hammer, then once it's pounded to matchsticks keep hitting it with the hammer.

|11.28.06 @ 11:21AM|#

Wow. In those top seven, I'd have to go with ol' Bill Clinton. Frankly, I don't really know anything about Obama, but he seems potentially strong in the warmth department.

|11.28.06 @ 11:27AM|#

Is McCain warm or just sweaty?

|11.28.06 @ 11:28AM|#

Tell you what, joe, the minute one of your guys does something about cops murdering old ladies they'll get my attention. Until then I'll consider them all equally culpable partners in crime.

dhex|11.28.06 @ 11:47AM|#

"As a New Yorker, I'm appalled by any support for Guiliani anywhere."

quoted for motherfucking truth.

ChrisO|11.28.06 @ 12:11PM|#

I guess pollsters have to have something to do...two fucking years from the next election. Give it a rest, already!

In my experience, the "warmest" politicians are the ones who are the most effective at cleaning out your wallet. Sorta like con artists.

Larry A|11.28.06 @ 12:35PM|#

This was obviously not a poll of gun owners. Only one Second Amendment friendly name in the top seven, and she's too smart to run.

It's going to be a long two years.

|11.28.06 @ 12:42PM|#

The Republicans say they need to get back to conservative principles to win in '08. Rudy is a liberal Republican. He supports gun control, abortion, and immigration. If the Republicans are serious about returning to conservatisim, he is not their man. I doubt he will win anyway. I don't think the Christian right will support him once they get to know him.

He wanted to do away with the City Council. On a national level, that's like the President trying to do away with Congress. He doesn't like checks and balances.

He may behave differently as President, but I don't expect a tiger to change its stripes.

|11.28.06 @ 12:47PM|#

Fools! There is a likable, omnipotent alternative.

|11.28.06 @ 1:08PM|#

Hey. I'm likable. And I can dance!

Get Walken!

Rhywun|11.28.06 @ 3:07PM|#

Get Walken!

Is that for real?! Who cares about his politics - I'd vote for him in a second.

If the Republicans are serious about returning to conservatisim, he is not their man.

I think they mean *fiscal* conservatism. They can't seriously believe that anyone *more* socially conservative than Bush is electable right now.

|11.28.06 @ 4:00PM|#

I can't think of another explanation for a guy with that face and voice to be sixth.

Droopy Dog fans are apathetic. Lieberman gets his support because he also looks like Krusty the Clown. And Simpson fans vote.

|11.28.06 @ 5:48PM|#

Rhywun,

It's fake, but it should be real.

Zod, on the other hand, is straight up.

|11.28.06 @ 7:37PM|#

"| November 28, 2006, 11:28am | #

Tell you what, joe, the minute one of your guys does something about cops murdering old ladies they'll get my attention. Until then I'll consider them all equally culpable partners in crime."

Where the hell did that come from?

|11.28.06 @ 8:28PM|#

Bloomberg at 51%? The guy's about as warm as an economics professor.

Giuliani though, I can understand... I've seen the guy speak. He comes off very, very comfortable in front of a crowd... but not very presidential. More like come hang out with my mob buddies at the bar. Sort of like an Italian Bush without the cowboy fixation. And more brains.

Rhywun|11.28.06 @ 10:55PM|#

I hated Giuliani when he was my mayor. I've warmed up to him a little since then; and now he gives me the warm fuzzies in comparison to Bloomberg. I wish we could trade him back in. But I honestly can't believe that anyone would take a Giuliani Presidential campaign seriously. Not only is he a New Yorker, but he *behaves* like one - I don't see how he could possibly appeal to anyone west of the Hudson.