Decoding Rudy Giuliani's AEI Speech

Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani gave an ambitious, campaign-style speech at the American Enterprise Institute. This was a speech for a national, not a state audience. Could Rudy Giuliani be contemplating another presidential run?

Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani gave an ambitious, campaign-style speech at the American Enterprise Institute. Touting his accomplishments as the mayor of New York City, Mr. Giuliani ran through the gamut of hot-button policy issues. He covered significant economic ground, relating the country’s unemployment rate to the disastrous situation he inherited when he was first elected as Mayor in 1993. But Giuliani framed his solutions in terms of what America, not New York, should do. Indeed, his speech included no references to the specific problems that his state faced, but instead incorporated a long section about the national sub-prime mortgage crisis. Even the title of the event, "Keeping America Competitive, Prosperous, Entrepreneurial, and Enterprising: Why Capitalism Works," implies broader ambitions. The former mayor's speech spoke to conservative theme and values. He talked about how he had been won over by proponents of school choice. He decried current health care reform proposals before Congress, while claiming that the American system was “the best in the world.” On the issue of poverty, he reminded the audience of his commitment to workfare over welfare. He warned against the dangers of social democracy. Giuliani’s message seemed to be, “Conservatives: I'm one of you!" This was a speech for a national, not a state audience. Could Rudy Giuliani be contemplating another presidential run? A void has been left behind by the recent collapses of Senator Ensign and Governor Sanford. In addition, Giuliani is sure to have realized that his most formidable opponent, Mitt Romney, does not have the same sort of pro-life credentials that Senator McCain brandished in the last election cycle. In any 2012 matchup between Giuliani and Romney, their similar records on prominent social issues could well render those contentious questions electorally moot in the Republican primaries. If the economy continues to worsen and the wheels fall off the Obama-wagon, Rudy Giuliani with his outstanding governance credentials and a full-throated conservative message may prove a more appealing choice for Republicans in 2012 than in 2008. The audience at AEI today may very well have been treated to the first speech of the Giuliani 2012 presidential campaign.