Chuck Clay:

Rudy Showed In Marietta He Can Mix And Mingle With The Best Of Them

By Chuck Clay

(12/7/07) Given former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s heroic and very public response in the aftermath to the terrorist attack of 9-11, it should come as no surprise that he excels in the old-fashioned politics of working a crowd, shaking hands, and asking for votes.

This past weekend Mayor Giuliani was in town for an Atlanta fund raiser, and decided to do some “retail politics” at the Marietta Square.

The Square, a site that has long been a “must” political stop for candidates statewide or nationally, is also a place not known for its timid crowds or quiet atmosphere. This past Sunday was no different.

Instead of the typical political event with controlled crowds and mandatory supporters, Giuliani met briefly with the press at a local retail establishment, and then simply walked out the door and down one side of the Square to make several stops in retail stores and shake hands along the way. The Mayor was then to return to the Square for a round of hand shaking, but the crush of the crowd prevented him from moving much more than about 50 yards in an hour.

Give the Mayor credit; he has the “star” power to draw a large crowd with less than 24 hours notice. Included though, was a loud contingent of Ron Paul supporters who camped out directly across from the Mayor’s starting place and proceeded to hoot, holler, cheer and jeer throughout the next hour. While they certainly made themselves noticed, several observers noted that their sometimes rude behavior was not likely to garner much support in the pro-Giuliani crowd. Be that as it may, the Mayor was undeterred and proceeded to sign autographs and pose for pictures with whoever had a camera and wanted a shot with the Mayor.

When one doesn’t know whether the person approaching is a supporter or detractor, the task can be intimidating. This is obviously, however, a milieu in which the Mayor clearly shines. Certainly, Giuliani boasts an enviable record of governing a city that many considered, ungovernable, and he likewise became a symbol of this nation’s agony and resolve through 9-11. It is, however, the clear joy and passion that he brings to the campaign trail that ignites excitement and can cause undecided voters to lean his way.

While some came to the Marietta Square just to see a presidential candidate, most were Rudy supporters. All had to leave impressed with the Mayor’s candor, patience and the obvious joy and energy he gets from campaigning. This sort of stop is unrehearsed, and while walking the Mayor was peppered with questions from the crowd, and he responded to all.

No one could have left the event without being impressed by his willingness to open himself up to the public.

There will be ups and downs, and twists and turns in the campaign for the White House in ’08, but anyone associated with the Giuliani campaign cannot help but feel energized and excited when watching the Mayor work a crowd.

There is a touch of the ebullience of the “Happy Warrior,” Senator Hubert Humphrey, but this is also combined with and tempered by the years spent prosecuting organized crime and successfully governing a major city through the nation’s worst tragedy since the Second World War.

One campaign stop does not a victory make, but it is the small things that make governments work and campaigns succeed. Right now, no one is doing it better than Giuliani.