Giuliani seeks to prove experts wrong
Updated: 2008-01-29 10:07
Giuliani made an appeal to those voters turned off by the recent mudslinging between McCain and Romney.
"I am sick and tired of all this negative campaigning. I am sick and tired of all this name-calling. This is no way to conduct a presidential election," Giuliani said.
Orlando property manager Donna Barron said she hopes the polls are wrong.
"Maybe this will be the year the polls die," said Barron. "I don't know if Rudy's going to win or not, but I know I'm voting for him regardless, and my husband is, too."
Giuliani was the early favorite among Republicans last year, due to his larger-than-life role leading New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It earned the cover of national magazines and drove a multimillion-dollar consulting business. Even years after the attacks, complete strangers would sometimes burst into tears when they met him.
But as the last year's primary positioning grew more intense and the grunt work of ground campaigning wore on, Giuliani's lead evaporated, resulting in weak showings in early states. He finished sixth in Iowa, fourth in New Hampshire.
He has settled on an all-or-nothing Florida strategy, and if he cannot pull off the upset, he will have scant support or resources left to compete with McCain or Romney in next Tuesday's 20-plus primaries and caucuses. He has spent $1 million a week in advertising in Florida.
Despite the long odds, those at Monday's rally continued to rave about what he did in New York, and that he should be elected to make similar changes to the entire country. Many cited their own personal connections to New York in praising Giuliani.
Actor Jon Voight, a product of Yonkers, N.Y., warmed up crowds by reminding them of how, under Giuliani, New York City was transformed into a much safer, cleaner and more livable city.
"God sent an angel, his name was Rudy Giuliani," said Voight, adding: "He's kind of a genius."
And Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum insisted that genius will be proven again Tuesday.
"The press is going to be wrong, the polls are going to be wrong," McCollum told the crowd.
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