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Pundit Poll
Though neither has yet done a formal, staged announcement of a presidential run, both former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) have made their White House ambitions clear. And according to poll after poll, voters nationwide are happy to hear it: Giuliani continues to dominate the Republicans, and Clinton remains well ahead of all fellow Democrats.
The last New Yorker at the top of a major party ticket was Gov. Thomas Dewey in 1948, who four years before ran against fellow New Yorker—and his predecessor in the governor’s mansion—Franklin Roosevelt.
With the race already getting the national and local press abuzz, City Hall asked five New York politicos to weigh in on some of what a Giuliani-Clinton showdown might mean.
Bill O’Reilly
Founder, O’Reilly Strategic Communications
What are the odds that the race will be between them? “50-50.”
Between the two of them, who would carry New York’s 31 electoral votes? I think Rudy would.
Who would win the whole race? “Rudy.”
If you had to give each of them a nickname, what would it be? “I’d call Rudy the Sheriff, and I’d give Hillary the Weather Vane.”
Hank Sheinkopf
Founder, Sheinkopf Communications
What are the odds that the race will be between them? “50-50, but Hillary has a better chance of getting the Democratic nomination than Giuliani would of getting the Republican nomination.”
What would a match-up mean for New York? “It would mean that New York would be very much in play. The New York tabloids would have a field day with both of them. Everything about their lives that has happened would be national news.”
Who would carry New York’s 31 electoral votes? “Hillary. New York is a Democratic state with a two million plus Democratic voting edge.”
Who would win the whole race? “It would be a close race, but Hillary would win.”
Bill Lynch
Founder, Bill Lynch Associates
What are the odds that the race will be between them? “Right now, I think a 50-50 chance, but I don’t think it will happen a year from now.”
What would a match-up mean for New York? “It would be what I’d call the Presidential Subways Series.”
Who would carry New York’s 31 electoral votes? “Hillary.”
Who would win the whole race? “Hillary.”
Kieran Mahoney
Managing Partner, Mercury Public Affairs
What are the odds that the race will be between them? “Clinton 50-50, and Giuliani 1 in 5.”
What would it mean for New York? “It means they wouldn’t have to change senators, because Hillary would lose.”
Between the two of them, who would carry New York’s 31 electoral votes? “Hillary.”
Who would win the whole race? “Giuliani in a landslide.”
If you had to give each of them a nickname, what would it be? “Lefty and Tiger.”
Ed Koch
Former Mayor
What are the odds that the race will be between them? “35 percent.”
What would it mean for New York? “Hillary wins, the city wins. Rudy wins, the country loses.”
Between the two of them, who would carry New York’s 31 electoral votes? “Hillary.”
Who would win the whole race? “Hillary.”
If you had to give each of them a nickname, what would it be? “I’d give Giuliani Inspector Javert, and Hillary Lady Godiva—that’s the one that was naked on the horse right?”