Republicans DO NOT Make Us Safer

In a rare reaction to Rudy Giuliani's comments today, Obama, Edwards and Clinton struck back. Obama actually issued a statement with comments directly aimed at Giuliani and actually using his name. The step of issuing a statement retalating to another candidates remarks is rare, but justified in this case.

Giuliani actually said “America will be safer with a Republican president.” Unbelievable. He went on to elaborate that only a Republican president will protect the people from terrorists and be on the offense, whereas a Democratic president would only be on the defense the cost and number of deaths will be greater. I don't see how he can make that claim, since the Republicans don't want to withdraw, thus spending more money to finance the war and more war casualties as well. And, didn't September 11 happen under a Republican president and Republican New York City mayor? Obviously the Republicans aren't the great offensive force Giuliani claims. Read his full comments.

While Clinton issued a statement, she did not actually name Giuliani. But Obama had the guts to name him specifically, and Edwards later did as well. Obama said: "Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics. America’s mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. We know we can win this war based on shared purpose, not the same divisive politics that question your patriotism if you dare to question failed policies that have made us less secure. I think we should focus on strengthening our intelligence, working with local authorities and doing all the things we haven’t yet done to keep Americans safe. The threat we face is real, and deserves better than to be the punchline of another political attack.”

Giuliani, you're creating back-lash you cannot afford at this point. He is clearly working to attract more conservatives from the Republican Party, but in doing so, he's making bold and stupid claims he cannot back up. And I don't think the American people truly believe a Republican president will make us safer, instead they're ready to give Bush the boot in a hurry in order to get a fresh perspective on the war and finally end it. Only a Democrat has the courage and smarts to do just that.

Movement in the Polls

A new national Gallup poll finds that Obama is gaining ground, and a lot of it, on chief rival Clinton. Previously leading Obama by 19 percent (38 percent to 19 percent), Clinton lead over Obama has slipped to just five percent (31 to his 26 percent) Edwards trails at 16 percent and Gore at 15 percent. The un-candidate surpasses all the other Democrats who do not have more than 3 percent. Clinton's current 45% favorable rating with the American public is her third consecutive reading below 50% in the past two months, and is one of the lowest Gallup has measured for her since 1993. And the poll shows the growing distate with Clinton is broad-based across all races, partys, age groups and both sexes.

Perhaps more troublesome for Clinton is that 52 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her in the poll, versus 45% who have a favorable view. By comparison, Obama has a 52%-27% fav/unfav rating. That means that are a lot of people who have yet to form an opinion on him and can easily be swayed to form a favorable opinion of him.

In the GOP field, Giuliani is at 35%, McCain at 22%, Fred Thompson at 10%, and Romney at 9%. Again, a non-candidate, Thompson, tops a majority of the field of candidates.

The poll also shows that just 36% approve of Bush's job; only 25% approve of Alberto Gonzales' job; and just 26% believe the troop surge in Iraq is making the situation there better.

The fact that Obama never approved of the war, the only candidate with that stance, is a help to him, as the Iraq war continues to be a hot buttom issue. The fact that 74 percent of people are dissatisfied with the troop surge and how the war is being handled he can easily work to his advantage and rope this voters onto his team.

And he's one of the few candidates who got their start working with the American public as a "regular Joe" which will continue to work to his advantage as Clinton continues to poll that she can't relate to the American people, Guiliani doesn't know the cost of daily necessities because he's out of touch and Edwards uses campaign funds for $400 haircuts.