Scenes from the last day

Posted at 11:14 AM on November 6, 2006 by Bob Collins

I imagine these will come in dribs and drabs throughout the day.

First, to St. Louis Park, where Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and apparent future presidential candidate campaigned for the GOP.

So when does that presidential campaign begin? Tomorrow (OK, it actually began 2 years ago.). One thing I noticed at the GOP convention in New York in '04 is the delegates just love Giuliani and they just like John McCain. But the public seems to embrace McCain more than Giuliani. This is a similar situation to Hillary Clinton, who is the darling of Democrat delegates, but runs into a tougher time with the mainstreet version.

I was having dinner Friday night with a couple of Republican friends and proclaimed -- prematurely, obviously -- that Giuliani can't win. They were shocked. Of course, I also don't think Clinton can win, so if it comes down to Giuliani vs. Clinton, I'll be able to ignore minor details and proclaim that I "called it."

Why do I think Giuliani can't win? Two words: Donna Hanover. OK, two more: Judith Nathan. Two more? New York. And finally, two more : "family values."

These presidential elections -- at least for the GOP -- seem to hinge on the Missippi River Valley, which includes a big chunk of Bible belt and "heartland" states, of course.

It'll be a marketers' challenge and, of course, that's what politics is all about.

Today's event in St. Louis Park was organized by firefighters. Apparently Dennis Leary was busy.

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