Draft Rudy Giuliani for President

He is America's Mayor now, so we shouldn't be surprised that two Chicago political operatives have formally started a movement to draft Rudy Giuliani for President.

The Daily News and the New York Post had the story:

Polls show that if voters had their choice right now, the 2008 race would be an all-New York blockbuster cage match between Giuliani and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton - and he would win.

Giuliani said recently that it's too early to decide whether to run in 2008, but he did add, "I think I'll return to politics."

His spokeswoman Sunny Mindel had a terse "no comment" when asked about the Draft Rudy movement.

Mindel, who is Rudy's protector amid the press, could be a little less... terse.

The New York Post noted that a DraftGiuliani.com website poll showed 74.7 percent of the visitors to that site had already signed a petition to draft New York City's former Mayor.

"We think he's the strongest candidate in fall of 2008," said former Illinois GOP chairman Allen Fore, who aims to have signed up coordinators in all 50 states by May.

The News noted how this could further open up a McCain/Giuliani competition.

Twenty percent of Republicans wouldn't vote for McCain under any circumstances, according to an NBC poll, while adamant opposition to Giuliani is less than half that at 8%.

This could greatly affect next year's race for Governor, with Rudy apparently backing Weld (though our sources keep hinting he might have at least TWO other horses in the running) and McCain backing Golisano.

The News also noted that Giuliani isn't the only potential candidate with a fan club pushing for a run.

"Americans for Dr. [Condoleezza] Rice" is already up and running and spent $4,000 to run an ad in New Hampshire during the series premiere of the female-President TV drama "Commander in Chief."

News Copy would like to see a petition movement for former Secretary of State Colin Powell.