IS RUDY BACK? - AT 8:26 A.M. ET:  There are reports that Rudy Giuliani, having ruled out a run for the governorship of New York next year, will instead run for the Senate, as the Wall Street Journal reports:

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who has been widely rumored to be interested in running for governor, is weighing "a real possibility" of seeking a U.S. Senate seat next year, a former Giuliani campaign aide said.

Mr. Giuliani has made no final decision, this person said, but said that the Republican is "more interested in running for Senate." He would seek the New York seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the post last winter.

From a national standpoint, this is the critical part:

Some state Republicans said a run for a national office made more sense. Of late, Mr. Giuliani, who shepherded New York City through the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack, has criticized President Barack Obama's decision to try several of the alleged 9/11 plotters in a criminal trial in New York, rather than in a military venue. Mr. Giuliani, they said, has clearly been attracted to a national platform, where he could speak out on national-security issues.

A Rudy run in New York would make that trial the centerpiece of his campaign, and keep focusing national attention on the absurdity of the decision.  The anger in New York over the risks posed by the trial could electrify the campaign and give Rudy the national-security platform he seeks.

But Rudy faces substantial hostility from the African-American community in New York.  Although he saved more African-American lives through his anti-crime program than all mayors of New York combined, he did so without genuflecting to the black leadership, a civil crime in New York.  They tagged him a racist, which he is not, and the label has stuck in many neighborhoods.

The sparks will fly.  Bring on the sparks.

November 20,  2009