The Daily Background
| The Post-FL game: Is a Rudy dropout imminent?
by Arlen Parsa
It’s primary day in Florida.
The Democratic race is, of course, non-binding, so it doesn’t really matter at this stage. The Republican contest may be more interesting though. There are already signs that Rudy Giuliani, who foolishly banked his entire campaign on the single state, may be very close to dropping out.
The indispensable Greg Mitchell (of E&P) writes on his blog:
NBC reports that Rudy left autographed baseballs (with his name, not someone valuable, like ARod) on the seats of traveling reporters, suggesting it was a farewell gesture. Goodbye Ruby Tuesday is now upon us.
More dropout signs from the LA Times:
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.
The Times also notes that “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.”
[…] Told reporters before primary: “The winner of Florida will win the nomination.” […]