Florida proving ground for Giuliani

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The campaign of GOP presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may falter if his strategy in Florida fails to pay off.

National polls show support for Giuliani slipping to the bottom of the Republican field and his supporters fear a loss in the Jan. 29 Florida primary may hinder his chances in New York, The New York Times said Thursday.

His campaign supporters say if Giuliani wins the Florida primary or places a strong second, he can virtually guarantee a victory in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut which hold their primaries on "tsunami" Tuesday Feb. 5 with 22 other states.

"If he carries Florida, he carries New York," said Fred Siegel, a former Giuliani adviser. Siegel said a victory in Florida, however, would be "a miraculous comeback," adding, "I wouldn't bet on it."

Giuliani's declining poll numbers led many supporters in New York and other areas to question the former mayor's strategy of ignoring the early contests and focusing instead on Florida and the Feb. 5 contests.

Poll numbers in December had Giuliani leading his rivals in the later contests, but the early contests have thrust his rivals to the forefront, making the Republican presidential nominating contest a very tight race.