A RUDY SURPRISE? – AT 8:50 A.M. ET:  Byron York, at Washington Examiner, has a story that is spreading very rapidly around the internet.  He is not the only source for this.  Rudy Giuliani may shake things up by joining the Republican race for president:

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose presidential campaign fizzled in 2008, is leaning toward another race for the White House, according to a close associate. New York Republican Rep. Peter King, who has known Giuliani for more than 40 years, says the former mayor "is very close to saying he's going to run."

"If he were to make the decision today, he would run," says King.

Speaking at a dinner with reporters in Washington, King, who was an enthusiastic Giuliani supporter in 2008, said the former mayor has been quietly lining up support and exploring strategy. Giuliani has also examined the mistakes his campaign made in '08, when he did not seriously compete in a contest until the Florida primary, by which time he was hopelessly behind in the race.

It's unclear what effect a Giuliani candidacy would have on the primary campaign. There is an ongoing conversation among Republican political insiders about supposed voter unhappiness with the GOP field, and after Indiana governor Mitch Daniels' decision not to run, pundits and strategists have focused on hopes that New Jersey governor Chris Christie or House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan might be coaxed into running. Others have mentioned the name of former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Few observers have looked to Giuliani as a possible savior of the Republican Party.

Yet there are some indicators to encourage the former mayor. In a new poll of New Hampshire Republicans released Monday by television station WMUR, Giuliani tied for third, well behind frontrunner Mitt Romney but ahead of Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin, Daniels, Jon Huntsman, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, and Herman Cain. When WMUR asked New Hampshire GOP primary voters which candidate is the strongest leader, Giuliani placed second to Romney, although a distant second. If Giuliani were to run, he would likely focus his efforts on the Granite State.

COMMENT:  I'm a Giuliani fan, but I must tell you that I think Rudy's time is past.  He's 9-11, and it's ten years out from 9-11.  Rudy was a great mayor, but has a hard time with strategy that extends beyond security and crime-fighting.  His 2008 race for the nomination was abysmal.  He has the image of great mayor, not president.  He also has a messy family life, with a son who is apparently estranged.

Further, Rudy is a man who is admired, not liked.  Despite his legendary reputation, the public didn't warm to him his last time out as a presidential contender.

And yet, you never know.  Rudy is a strong leader, and with the right guidance might overcome his deficits.  I hope he gets in.  Let's look him over again.  He can be especially potent if we face a national-security crisis in 2012.

May 24, 2011