MEMPHIS — When Rudolph W. Giuliani stepped on stage in an enormous sports arena here, he was greeted with a brassy rendition of "New York, New York," a blinding cloud of confetti and a roaring ovation from a crowd of more than 10,000.
The response at the recent business seminar was a tribute to the widespread appeal of the former mayor, who cleaned up New York and stood strong in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But it also looked like a dress rehearsal for a presidential campaign.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday May 02, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 41 words Type of Material: Correction
Rudolph W. Giuliani: An article in Sunday's Section A on the political fortunes of Rudolph W. Giuliani said the former New York mayor was named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 2001. It should have said Person of the Year.
With polls showing Giuliani an early front-runner among the GOP's potential presidential candidates in 2008, this appearance and others around the country raise a question: Is the Republican Party ready for a nominee who takes liberal positions on abortion, gun control and gay rights; has had two messy divorces; once lived with a gay couple; and endorsed liberal icon Mario M. Cuomo to be governor of New York?
Maybe so, if the warm reception he got from the mostly conservative audience in Memphis is any indication.
"I think that man would make an excellent president,'' said Tamara Lowe, the mistress of ceremonies at the event.
But many Republicans see Giuliani as a walking political paradox. Although he is one of the party's most popular, best-known leaders, they cannot imagine him winning the nomination for a party in which evangelical conservatives have a big voice in presidential politics.
David A. Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said, "Giuliani is a smart enough guy to know that the first day of his campaign would be his best day. He is superficially popular, but when
Giuliani has said he will not make a decision about seeking the presidency until after November's midterm elections. But his calendar is loaded with political appearances that would serve him well if he runs.
Today, he attends a New York fundraiser for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Monday, he travels to Iowa, site of the presidential season's first nominating contest, to appear with local GOP candidates and raise money for the state party. Tuesday, he headlines a fundraiser in Washington for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Such stops help Giuliani bank goodwill from other Republicans that he could draw on in a presidential race. But unless he backs away from his support for gay rights, gun control and abortion rights, a Giuliani campaign would hinge on a crucial question: In the post-Sept. 11 political world, are such social issues less important than they have been in GOP presidential politics?
