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October 31, 2004
Ex-New York Mayor, First President Bush
Calling Texans for Coordinated Campaign
By
Mike Hailey
Capitol
Inside Editor
Two of the GOP's biggest superstars - former New York Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani and President George H.W.
Bush - are reaching out to Texas voters in a pair
of automatic telephone calls to urge them to support "our
Republican team" at the polls on Tuesday.
Produced for the Republicans' Texas Victory 2004
effort, one robo call features Giuliani speaking
on the subject for which he's most famous as he recommends
support for a Republican team that "sees world terror
for the evil that is it." The former leader of the
nation's largest city echoes one of the major themes of
the Republican national campaign this year. "In times
of danger, Americans must put leadership at the core of
their decisions," Giuliani says in the recording he
made for the GOP's coordinated campaign in Texas.
The first president Bush follows that up in a separate
call in which he focuses on the importance of proven leadership
in the face of challenge. "Our Republican team will
lead our country though this tough time with strong and
steady resolve," the familiar voice says after introducing
himself with a light-hearted quip as "George Bush ...
you know, Barbara's husband."
The calls appear to be designed as motivational tools that
can accomplish a number of purposes such as maximizing GOP
turnout while influencing voters who may still be on the
fence. But they are also instructional with information
such as when the polls will be open and tips on how to deal
with questions such as what to do with absentee ballots
that have yet to be mailed back to election officials.
Neither Bush nor Giuliani seem too concerned that President
George W. Bush is in any danger of losing
the state he led as governor. But the calls give the impression
that Republicans have learned the value of avoiding another
Florida recount scenario - and if 2000 does repeat itself
- they want to help Bush capture as much of the popular
vote as he can in order to claim the high ground in a public
relations war in the event that the election goes into overtime
as weekend polls show it could well do. The robo calls also
appear designed to give the entire ticket a boost with a
subliminal appeal to voters in the middle in the form of
public service messages from an ex-president who is still
widely respected despite being ousted 12 years ago and a
moderate political leader who's been viewed as a great American
hero since he rallied his city in the wake of the terrorist
attacks three years ago.
Texas has long been consigned to the red state category
with Bush's lead here never threatened. But other Republicans
in pivotal races for Congress and the state House are locked
in fights to the finish in contests that both sides have
shots at winning. By promoting a team concept that in effect
encourages straight-ticket voting, the robo calls have the
potential to help down-ballot candidates get a lift from
coattails that extend from the top of the ticket on Tuesday.
It wasn't clear late Sunday exactly which groups of voters
had been targeted with the automated phone calls. The call
from Giuliani could have potential downsides if received
by some of the GOP's more conservative supporters, who are
not happy about the prospects of the ex-New York official
running for president four years from now. Giuliani's more
liberal positions on abortion, gays and other hot button
issues do not sit well with many party conservatives and
could be an obstacle to any plans he might have for a White
House bid in 2008.
The possibility of having Giuliani as a speaker at a Texas
delegation breakfast at the Republican National Convention
in New York this summer caused a moment of friction among
some of the state's top GOP leaders. After state party officials
learned that the former mayor was available for the delegates'
final breakfast meeting that week, the plug was pulled amid
speculation that some conservatives from Texas might protest
publicly if Giuliani did show up to speak.
Giuliani is good friends with Texas Lieutenant Governor
David Dewhurst, who had initiated the breakfast
speaking engagement. Giuliani appeared at an Austin event
with Bush while he was still governor in late 1999.
The calls from the former president and ex-mayor also highlight
the coordinated campaign's web site at www.texasvictory.org.
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