Recent news stories about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani deciding not to enter the 2012 Republican presidential primary closes one door, but opens another.
Why not run for the Senate against liberal Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand in 2012 instead? Sen. Gillibrand will have to run for a full six-year term. Her name will appear on the ballot directly below President Obama.
With a 9 percent unemployment rate, continued political gridlock in Washington, a looming $16 trillion dollar deficit within two years and an economy with zero growth, President Obama may face a serious challenge in carrying New York. He may be unable to provide any political coat tails for Sen. Gillibrand.
In addition, her mentor, Sen. Schumer, will not be on the ballot in 2012 to provide her with a direct link on the ballot. You can be sure that Sen. Schumer will tap into his own contributors list to assist Gillibrand. Schumer wants to keep his younger apprentice in the Senate. Schumer will raise as many millions as it takes from his own “Pay for Play” special interests crowd to assure Gillibrand will be able to outspend her Republican opponent by a wide margin. Schumer has successfully used this tactic in his last two campaigns for reelection outspending his under financed and unknown Republican challengers by millions.
As a 2012 Senate candidate. Giuliani brings certain assets to the campaign that money alone can’t buy. He is a proven crime fighter. As a two-term mayor of a New York City previously dominated by political corruption of Democratic one-party rule, he turned the Big Apple around. During his administration in the 1990s, crime was reduced, streets became both cleaner and safer, economic growth and the creation of jobs were on the upswing and the city budget was balanced.
After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, he served as a beacon of strength for all New Yorkers who survived the terrible aftermath to go on with life.
New York State has a registration of 5,644,300 Democrats which outnumbers 2,825,772 Republicans. Democrats currently hold all statewide offices. The last Republican senator was Alfonse D’Amato who lost his seat to Democrat Charles Schumer in 1998. The last Republican state comptroller. Ned Regan, won his final term in 1990. The last Republican state attorney general, Dennis Vacco, served only one term winning in 1994. The last Republican to win any statewide office was former Governor George Pataki who won his final term in 2002. Since that time, no Republican has been successful in winning any statewide office.
Giuliani is one of the few GOPers who has consistently been able to attract large numbers of first time, independent and moderate Democratic voters to build the majority coalition necessary for winning public office in New York.
This potentially might include 425,811 registered Independence Party members and 2,288,512 other voters who have declared no party affiliation. His commitment to Israel has historically been stronger than President Obama.
As a result, he may be able to attract significant number of Jewish Democrats to cross party lines and vote for him. Newly elected Republican Congressmember Bob Turner did just that in the Sept. 13 neighboring Queens/Brooklyn 9th Congressional special election.
Just like in the science fiction movie “Re-animator”, Rudy Giuliani could bring the dead Empire State GOP back to life.
Senator Giuliani could also become a national spokesperson for urban residents of New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse along with Long Island and other suburbs around New York State and the nation.
He would be a significant voice within a potential Republican controlled Senate in 2013 which may have a stronger rural political orientation. Democrats have to defend 23 Senate seats versus the Republicans 10 in 2012. Many of the Democratic seats were either formally represented by Republicans while others are very competitive between the two parties.
Candidate Giuliani could put a formerly safe Democratic Senate seat in play. Republicans only need to pick up eight more seats. That is the magic number needed to regain control of the Senate. A Sen. Giuliani from New York could be GOP member to make the difference. New York would be better represented with a Senator seated in the majority caucus to ensure we get a fair share of federal assistance from Washington.
Time will tell if Rudy Giuliani still has the fire in the belly for one last political contest.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
