Is Giuliani running on empty?

The Associated Press

Rudy Giuliani appeals for support wherever he can find it.

Featured Topic | Posted 44 weeks 5 days ago

With his plan for winning the GOP presidential nomination riding largely on a Florida victory at the end of the month, Rudy Giuliani asked an evangelical congregation for prayers instead of votes Sunday and quoted scripture to evoke a message of hope and perseverance. "I'm not coming here to ask for your vote," he said. "That's up to you and it's not the right place. But I am coming here to ask you for something very special and more important: I'm asking for your prayers."

Apparently, the former New York Mayor needs more than just votes or prayers. He needs money. The campaign last week asked workers to forgo paychecks until after the Florida primary on Jan. 29. Giuliani is banking on Florida propelling him back into front-runner status for the GOP. Will it work?

Ben likes: The Giuliani implosion

Matthew Continetti/The Weekly Standard

It's a good thing for Rudy Giuliani that he believes in the power of optimism. These days his campaign needs some. For most of 2007 the former New York City mayor led the Republican field in national polls, some state polls, and money raised from individual contributors. Poll after poll showed that Republicans believed Giuliani was the GOP's best chance to hold the White House in 2008.

Those days are over.

Joel likes: Rudy's last stand

Josh Greenman/The New York Daily News

Giuliani is in danger of being downgraded to the welterweight division. Rudy says it almost as much as he says "9/11" - because the Jan. 29 primary is his warm Waterloo. But a new statewide poll shows Huckabee, Romney and McCain all ahead of him. With Rudy now third in national polls, that's starting to sound about right.