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Posted: July 31, 2007 5:01 PM
Giuliani Leads GOP Contenders in CNN Poll
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The latest ABC News-Washington Post poll found presidential hopeful former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani the top choice for Republicans and conservative-leaning independents.

Giuliani was the pick for 38 percent of those surveyed, followed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., with 18 percent.

Nonetheless, Giuliani will not be attending the Republican CNN/YouTube debate in September due to what his aides say are scheduling conflicts. GOP rival former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also declined to attend, leaving McCain and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, as the candidates confirmed so far. The Democratic candidates all attended their own CNN/YouTube debate last week, where they fielded questions from health care to the Iraq war.

Giuliani, meanwhile, came out in support of a provision that would allow citizens to report suspected terrorist activity without fear of a lawsuit. He claimed Democrats who do not support the provision are trying to “strip important protections for those who report suspected terrorists.

Continuing to champion his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Giuliani told an audience in San Francisco last week that a Democrat in the White House would be softer on terrorism and allow the United States to become more vulnerable for another attack. Speaking the day of a Democratic debate, Giuliani challenged his opponents to use the word “Islamic terrorists,” and said, “We are in a war with Islamic terrorists. No matter how much avoiding you do, it’s not going to go away.”

In response to last week’s release of three radio ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, the Democratic National Committee accused the Giuliani campaign of misleading voters about his record as mayor. The national organization released a fact sheet for each of the three ads.

Continuing his attack on his Democratic rivals, Giuliani told a New Hampshire crowd earlier this week that Democrats want a nanny government. “Democrats are kind of falling over each other seeing who can raise taxes faster,” Giuliani said. “It looks like they’re going to raise taxes anywhere 20 to 30 percent.” On Sunday, the campaign sent out a press release detailing the 23 times Giuliani cut taxes as mayor. And last week, Giuliani called Democrats the party of losers.