Opinion: Bada Bing

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Much of the nation remains in heated debate over the ending to ‘The Sopranos.’ But the folks over at the National Italian American Foundation in Washington, frankly, aren’t shedding any tears that a series they thought perpetuated stereotyping has run its course. What they are happy about is an ethnic milestone that, so far, has attracted relatively little notice --- Rudy Giuliani’s presidential candidacy.

John B. Salamone, the foundation’s national executive director, stresses that the non-profit group is non-partisan; it in no way plays any role in Giuliani’s candidacy or backs it. Still, within his offices, the mere fact that an Italian-American has a solid shot at winning the presidency is obviously a topic of conversation.

‘There’s not a day that goes by,’ he says, ‘that my phone isn’t ringing with comments from Italian-Americans from across the country --- Democrats as well as Republicans --- who are excited by the prospect of an Italian-American in the White House.’

Much has been made, understandably so, about other aspects of the historic demographic mix marking the 2008 presidential race. There’s Hillary Clinton’s status as the first woman candidate to rank as a frontrunner for a major party’s nomination, Barack Obama’s exceedingly well-financed bid as an African-American,and Bill Richardson’s emergence as the first Latino waging a full-scale White House campaign. Mitt Romney’s effort to become the first Mormon elected president also has attracted much comment, most recently in a New York Times article.

The precedent-setting nature of Giuliani’s run was spotlighted by the New York Sun last week. But for the most part, the buzz among Italian-Americans that Salamone speaks of has flown under the radar in the mainstream media. That no doubt speaks to the assimiliation process. Still, not too long ago, Giuliani’s ethnic background would have made his presidential aspirations little more than a pipe dream.

One of Salamone’s colleagues likes to note that Al Smith, the former New York mayor who was the 1928 Democratic presidential nominee, was one-quarter Italian. But Smith’s cachet in the history books is as an Irish-American. In 1984, vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro would have been a heartbeat away from the top job had Walter Mondale defeated then-President Reagan. But that was an outcome only the most optimistic Democratic could have imagined (talk about a pipe dream!). In terms of seeking the No. 1 spot, Giuliani stands as the first Italian-American to even take a serious crack at it. Mario Cuomo, of course, toyed with a run in the 1992 race. But, as well remembered by a cadre of reporters awaiting him in New Hampshire on the last day to file for that state’s crucial primary --- and to the ever-lasting delight of candidate Bill Clinton --- Cuomo took a pass even as a plane sat on an Albany tarmac, ready to fly him there.

Giuliani’s heritage likely will gain more attention as the campaign proceeds --- especially if he locks down the GOP nod. Indeed, at that point, the potential impact of Italian American voters will come under a microscope.

Salamone notes that much of the nation’s Italian American population is congregated in states that often play key roles in deciding presidential elections, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. One of the other states with the largest concentration of Italian Americans? That would be New Jersey, home of a certain fictional mob family that we best not mention.

-- Don Frederick