George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani’s Potential Candidacy for the 2008 Presidential Election
Rudolph Giuliani was born May 28, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Manhattan with a B.A., Giuliani attended New York University School of Law where he graduated magna cum laude in 1968. His early career was focused on law rather than politics, including his service as a clerk for a New York district judge, as an executive U.S. Attorney, and as a chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. In 1981, Giuliani was named Associate Attorney General and in 1983 was named US Attorney for New York-South District. His greatest successes as a lawyer for the state and federal government included the indictment of Congressman Bert Podell for corruption and of Marc Rich for illegally selling oil to Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Giuliani unsuccessfully ran for mayor of New York City in 1989 against Democrat David Dinkins, whom he defeated in the 1993 election. Giuliani won election against in 1997 and 2001, and he served in an emergency capacity until April 2002 due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center.
George Pataki was born June 24, 1945 and attended Yale University, where he graduated with a BA in 1967. Pataki, an active conservative in the Yale Political Union, went on to receive his law degree rom Columbia University in 1970. After law school, Pataki achieved several public offices, including mayor of Peekskill, New York (1981-1984), New York Assembly (1985-1992) and New York Senate (1993-1994). After an endorsement by Republican Senator Al D’Amato in 1994, Pataki won a hard fought battle with Governor Mario Cuomo and took over in Albany in early 1995. Pataki won easily in 1998 against Democratic candidate Peter Vallone and in 2002 against Carl McCall. The governor has since decided against running in the 2006 gubernatorial election, sparking rumors he may be interested in running for president in 2008.
Giuliani and Pataki were at the forefront of the fallout from the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Rudy Giuliani was a prominent national figure during the aftermath of the attacks and won Time Person of the Year in 2001 for his role in bringing the city back together. George Pataki was also prominent, joining Giuliani in many interviews and public appearances (including Late Night with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live) and was a key figure in dealing with the recovery of the nation from the attacks. However, following the invocation of 9/11 in the 2004 presidential election, the political capital gained from being at ground zero has been spent. Additionally, both Giuliani and Pataki have strikes against them from within their own party. Giuliani’s past personal indiscretions and his pro-gay marriage stance may totally eliminate his chances in an increasingly conservative Republican Party. Pataki’s liberal stances on issues like abortion, gay rights, and health care reform (three important issues to Republicans) equally puts him at odds with a great many Republican activists. However, if the Republicans make a turn toward the middle instead of the fringe right, Pataki might be the best option with his executive experience and his commitment to organizing Republicans in a thoroughly Democratic state. Giuliani should be considered in a Republican administration for a role in Homeland Security, the Justice Department, or Housing and Urban Development.
