Rudy's Competing In New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina
The meme is out there: Rudy Giuliani is going to skip Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and place all his chips on the February 5th Tsunami Tuesday contests.
Though there's a kernel of truth in the idea that Giuliani is placing more emphasis on the Feb. 5, contests, it's simply not true that he is writing off the three early states -- not yet, anyway.
A Giuliani aide said that the campaign has, in fact, budgeted millions for the early contests. It has more staff members in New Hampshire now than California or Florida combined. Watch New Hampshire -- it's where Giuliani wants to make a stand. Aides concede that Giuliani might not follow the normal script in South Carolina and Iowa, but they insist that he will campaign there -- and that he will spend money to win there. Granted, aides concede that winning South Carolina and Iowa -- are, in that order, not easy as pie.
Don't forget Nevada. The Republican caucuses will probably be held 1/19. We're told that Giuliani is running to win those caucuses and that a gaggle full of key endorsements will wend his way after the state legislative session ends. [MARC AMBINDER]