Breaking News: Rudy Giuliani hints at dropping out

Rudy Giuliani appears to be pondering an end to his long pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination.

In a meeting in the back of his chartered plane en route to St. Petersburg, Fla., a short while ago, the onetime, longtime GOP front-runner told a small group of reporters, including The Times' Louise Roug: "The winner of Florida will win the nomination."

He then went on to predict he would win. And his spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said later he was speaking with confidence.

But that's an unusually categorical statement suggesting that only a total first-place upset by Giuliani, who trails both Mitt Romney and John McCain in all major polls for Florida's Republican primary tomorrow, will keep him in the competition, despite previous repeated vows to continue.

Giuliani's campaign, which led in national polls when it began and stayed there for many months, is showing signs of serious financial fatigue. This month his top staffers are foregoing their paychecks so the maximum amount of money can be invested to salvage his political fortunes in the Sunshine State, which was where Giuliani's late-state strategy was to kick into high gear.

So far, he's yet to finish first anywhere and ended up behind Rep. Ron Paul in Iowa and Nevada.

In his meeting with reporters today, Giuliani added that, no matter what happens Tuesday, he  definitely would  participate in the Republican debate co-sponsored by The Times on Wednesday at the Reagan Library.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Don Emmert AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[wgadget]

Go, Ron Paul!

[Deanna]

You forgot Michigan. Rudy also placed behind Ron Paul in Michigan.

[JeffnDallas]

Ron Paul isn't looking so "fringe" these days, is he?

First there were 11, now there are five and sounds like soon to be four. Oh, and of those 4-5 remaining, who has the most cash on hand to spend on the upcoming campaign primaries other than write-my-own-check Mitt?

These men talk about how they can save our economy, yet most of THEM are running their campaigns in the red! And they want control over MORE money?! Mitt may write his own checks, but where is his "true" support and supporters? Ron gets money without even asking!

So WHO do you think is in a better position to address our financial situation of this bunch? Gee, I wonder...!

[Jeff Childress]

Ron Paul will NEVER get the nomination........EVER

[Jason Taylor]

Forget the polls. They haven't been right yet. Why couldn't one interpret Rudy's comments as "I will win in Florida and I will win the nomination." That's what he's been saying all along. How is this hinting of dropping out? You nut jobs that are trying to push McCain on us make me sick.

[Mary]

He will come in big this is old tactics to discourage people to vote for him don’t listing to this nonsense go out and vote Rudy

[bill straub]

Rudy was the man to beat Hillary and win the White House with fiscal conservatism. He is a good man but made a very poor decision to not go all out in New Hampshire....

[Kate]

On the other hand, you have a candidate like Romney who did not take the salary offered to him to save the Olympics or his salary as governor...hmmm...who would you rather have in the White House? Someone who HAS been bought and paid for or someone who REFUSES to be? Go Romney '08

http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2002/12/30/daily21.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18935355/

[fanofwalt]

Did I read that right?

"No matter what happens Tuesday" -- I assume this includes the prospect of Rudy dropping out -- Giuliani would still participate in Wednesday's debate? Even if he's, um, no longer a candidate?

How does the Times, and the other co-sponsors of this debate, plan to respond to this? Would you and they actually allow a declared drop-out to usurp valuable speaking time from the still-running candidates? Should I also then expect to see Duncan Hunter, Dennis Kucinich, Fred Thompson, or other 2008 drop-outs on the debate stage?

If Rudy's no longer a declared candidate by Wednesday's debate, then by all means, devote the debate time -- equally -- to the remaining four GOP candidates. To do anything else would be a disservice to the viewers and the public at large.

[Lost in Irvine]

Juan McCain?

That is just sad.

Really sad.

[Taylor]

Rudy, McCain and Romney are good men, though it's most unfortunate to see McCain resort to dishonesty.

Even so, McCain has been a great Senator for the past 20+ years, and we Repubs are grateful for his heroic past and faithful service.

But let's not kid ourselves about McCain's prospects to win the White House folks. Today's polls are not tomorrow's polls — let alone what we will see come November.

Who is going to pull for McCain, huh? Conservatives don't like him (Limbaugh, etc.) You think the New York Times is going to rally Americans to vote for McCain? Not a chance!!!

Romney is energetic, super smart, and has the support of Limbaugh and nearly all other media conservatives. He truly has no other agenda than to help the country succeed, and none of the baggage McCain brings.

I pray/hope FL voters give Romney the edge!!!

[joe]

Julie-Annie also finished with half of the amount of votes that Paul got in South Carolina. So, he's actually finished behind Paul in Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, Louisiana, and barely edged out Paul in New Hampshire -although New Hampshire is in the middle of a recount. So, who knows, he may have lost there as well. Just makes you wonder how much of the vote Duncan Hunter (who has been running neck & neck with Julie) would have gotten with all the wasted airtime that went to Julie... And, amazing what Paul has done with less airtime than Sam Brownback or Tom Tancredo -just amazing...

[Eric]

Giuliani should drop out and endorse Ron Paul.

[DougMN]

Howdy, Mr. Malcolm!! It wasn't only in Nevada and Iowa that Ron Paul beat Guiliani. Ron Paul beat Guiliani in
IOWA
NEVADA
MICHIGAN
SOUTH CAROLINA
LOUISIANA

Guiliani said, "Those Ron Paul people are everywhere; yeah, they're all over the country and very enthused."

Go, Ron Paul.

[Vivian]

Good riddance and don't let the door hit you in the ........ Please take your National ID card with you rudy.

[coy]

We sure can't afford a McPain 4 years.

[Art Wiggins]

Mr Malcolm,
Rudy has been beaten by Rep. Ron Paul more than twice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_gKOCb4QBA

[Jorge I. Gomez]

This country needs Rudy Giuliani as Egypt needed another plague. Giuliani is just another Bush, but with a little bit more of intelligence. They both ride the 9/11 wave for such a long time that it has lost its appeal. Voters are not as afraid as before when Bush scared the hell of every american with his antics about Al Qaeda, Saddam Hussein, WMDs, we'll fight them there so we don't have to fight them here. But politics are a strange game where reality and what's best for the country become a low priority. Politics is just another word to protect the status quo and nothing else, otherwise, how can anybody explain why candidates who promised the most like Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and Ron Paul barely register on the polls and then people compalin that Washington doesn't change o doesn't care, duh!!!!

[a-benz]

Goddbye! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Ron Paul on economics;

1. Tax Reform: Reduce the tax burden and eliminate taxes that punish investment and savings, including job-killing corporate taxes.

2. Spending Reform: Eliminate wasteful spending. Reduce overseas commitments. Freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels.

3. Monetary Policy Reform: Expand openness with the Federal Reserve and require the Fed to televise its meetings. Return value to our money.

4. Regulatory Reform: Repeal Sarbanes/Oxley regulations that push companies to seek capital outside of US markets. Stop restricting community banks from fostering local economic growth.

Congressman Paul has written or co-sponsored numerous bills to enact the policies in his plan. In Congress, he has been a champion of lower taxes and limited government.

Congressman Paul is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. In Congress, Dr. Paul has never voted for a tax increase or for an unbalanced budget

The comprehensive economic revitalization plan is available online at: http://www.RonPaul2008.com/Prosperity .

[Jack Wilson]

Rudy is the only Republican who could defeat either Hillary or HusseinObama. the litmus-test conservative Reps don't care -- they would rather have Hillary or the black Muslim. it's the old maxim, it has to get worse before it can get better. the problem is, what the 'worse' puts in place in terms of judges and legislation cannot be undone that easily. what's more, the religious conservatives don't have an electable candidate now or in the foreseeable future. the times have changed since Reagan -- who really wasn't a conservative with respect to government spending or government expansion. Republicans have lost focus and have no leader -- the Bushes have made sure of that, as Reagan did before them. Dole? McCain? they both compromised with Kennedy -- how principled can they be.

[Brian Elkins]

wow..looks like this is another pro-Ron Paul story. Rudy could win, there's a record number of advance ballots that have been requested in Florida and a majority of them are expected to go for Giuliani. I agree that if he does not win Florida its over. I just hope to God McCain (Bob Dole 2.0) doesn't win. lol We would get creamed!

[Valerie]

Well, I'm voting for Rudy in the Florida GOP primary on Tuesday and I'm happy with my choice. It's a shame he hasn't had the opportunity to really talk to Americans for longer than 60 seconds at a time, because his message and ideas are great... just not suited to the soundbite media.

Whomever wins the nomination, at least it won't be Huckabee!

[Kevin]

So who would rudy endorse if he leaves .......

[Randy]

Guliani still has a place at the Republican table just like McCain has a place at the Democrats table. But Romney will serve the people of the United States well and has my full confidence.

[Angelo Pittsburgh, PA]

Andrew Malcolm for White House press secretary 2008!

Straight talk.....FINALLY!

Thanks for de-coding Mr. Giuliani's remark; "The winner of Florida will win the nomination."