The New York Times says former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is being "cautious" as he weighs whether or not to run for president in 2008.
Despite the delay, his aides argue that the accelerated pace of early primaries next year actually benefits a well-established figure like Mr. Giuliani — much, they say, as his national stature will enable him to close whatever gaps now exist in fund-raising and organization.
Frank Luntz, a Republican consultant who is not now working for any of the presidential campaigns, described Mr. Giuliani as “the only candidate who can set his own timetable, because he is so established in the minds of the voters.”
Nonetheless, doubts have been raised about the proverbial fire in his belly. Some New Yorkers in particular recall his decision to quit the Senate race against Mrs. Clinton in 2000 after running for months and raising millions of dollars but never formally declaring his candidacy.
But some folks close to Giuliani say it's a mistake to think he's wavering on whether or not to run.
"Folks who believe he is not running do so at their own peril," said Michael DuHaime, former political director of the Republican National Committee, who is heading Mr. Giuliani’s exploratory effort. "There is a spin out there that the campaign is further behind than it is, that Rudy may not be serious, and that is being done deliberately to keep us from certain fund-raisers," said Mr. DuHaime, a native New Jerseyan who begins working for Mr. Giuliani full time next week.
Kieran Mahoney, a Republican consultant in New York who is working for another presidential prospect, former Gov. James S. Gilmore III of Virginia, said he had been unconvinced of a Giuliani run until recently, when the former mayor stepped up the pace of hiring a campaign staff and reports emerged that he had taken steps to sell the biggest division of his consulting business.
ElephantBiz.com has no doubt that Giuliani's running. He's an executive, a leader, and his popularity and name-recognition have never been higher. He'll be able to raise millions almost instantly.
Sure, he has political weaknesses - his stance on gay marriage and abortion will turn off many social-conservative Republicans, for example. But his two main rivals for the GOP nomination have their weaknesses too - neither Arizona Sen. John McCain nor former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are 100 percent trusted by social conservatives, for example.
Giuliani will never have a better chance than now to win the GOP nomination and the presidency. He knows that. And that's why he'll run.
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