A tack to the middle seems like former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani’s best shot at the presidency in 2012, in his estimation.
In an interview on CNN’s Monday night broadcast of “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Giuliani reflected on former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s role on the American political landscape. Host Piers Morgan asked Giuliani if he was more likely to throw his hat into the ring should Palin not run.
On the contrary, the former New York City mayor said.
“Maybe the opposite, because my one chance, if I have a chance, is that I’m considered a moderate Republican,” Giuliani said.
According to Giuliani, he’s conservative on fiscal and foreign policy issues. However, he says that his stances on social issues could hinder his candidacy.
“It’s a strange thing, Piers,” Giuliani said. “I’m probably the most fiscally conservative of the people that might run for president or who were running for president and played that out as mayor of New York City. I’m probably one of the most conservative on foreign policy. But I am a social moderate. And it really depends on how important those issues are going to be this time. It’s not a benefit in the Republican Party. It is a benefit in the general election. It is not a benefit. It’s a liability in the Republican Party.”
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So if Giuliani wants to win the 2012 Republican nomination, he explained social issues would have to take a backseat to fiscal issues.
“And the question is, ‘Are they going to be looking for someone that is a fiscal conservative and has proven to be a fiscal conservative?’” Giuliani continued. “If the social issues become a big issue, then I wouldn’t have a very good chance. But I’m against abortion personally, but I think people should have the right to make that choice because I think it’s a personal decision. People disagree about that.”