Politics | Rudy Giuliani Why Rudy Fell So Far, So Fast Did voters see too little of him, or more than enough? By Matt Cantor Posted Jan 30, 2008 7:05 AM CST Copied Republican presidential hopeful former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, right, gets a kiss from his wife Judith, after speaking to a group of supporters in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (Associated Press) How did the man who took summer polls by storm fall so precipitously in the esteem of GOP voters that he was finished by Florida, the state he chose for his first big victory? It could be the hubris, the inexperienced campaign team, the strategic mistakes—or it could be that "the more Republican voters saw of Mr. Giuliani, the less they wanted to vote for him," conclude Michael Powell and Michael Cooper in the New York Times. Those early numbers “were built on name recognition and celebrity,” one adviser admits. It "bordered on science fiction to think that someone as liberal on as many issues as Rudy Giuliani could become the Republican nominee,” said a GOP consultant. When he tried to move to the right, he took “a muddled middle ground that pleased no one,” write Powell and Cooper. And perhaps he sealed his fate by “retreating” to Florida, leaving New Hampshire and Michigan for his rivals to scoop up. Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. See the best BBQ cities in the US. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Iraq's national game of deception brings out the best bluffers. Report an error