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Memo: Media chalk up Giuliani's early poor performance to "strategy"

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Interested Parties

From: Karl Frisch, Media Matters for America

Re: Media chalk up Giuliani's early poor performance to "strategy"

Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

In light of the considerable coverage given to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's Republican presidential campaign in the run-up to the Florida primary, Media Matters for America thought it helpful to bring to your attention an emerging theme in media coverage. Specifically, the media have repeatedly attributed Giuliani's poor performance in the primaries and caucuses of Iowa and New Hampshire to a purported "strategy" by the candidate's campaign to focus exclusively on Florida. In fact, Giuliani and others in his campaign have been quoted affirming their concerted efforts in Iowa and New Hampshire.

More detailed descriptions of Media Matters' top items on this issue and links to full text are included below:

Matthews failed to challenge GOP strategist's assertion that Giuliani said "I'm not going to play" in early primaries
On the January 9 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Chris Matthews failed to challenge Republican strategist John Feehery's assertion that Giuliani said of campaigning for the early Republican presidential primaries: "I'm not going to play in these earlier things; I'm going to play in Florida." In fact, on January 8, the day of the New Hampshire primary, Giuliani himself said: "We've actually spent the most time in New Hampshire and then Florida is right behind that."

Ignoring Giuliani's statement that he "spent the most time in" NH, media report that Giuliani skipped NH
On January 9, a USA Today editorial stated that Giuliani "finished dismally in New Hampshire, but his ignore-the-little-states strategy could pay off with a Jan. 29 win in Florida." And on Fox & Friends, radio talk show host Michael Reagan asserted that Giuliani is "sitting down in Florida. By the time they [the primaries] get to Florida, they may not even remember who Rudy Giuliani is." But according to ABC News, "Giuliani held more events in this first-in-the-nation primary state than any other Republican except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in neighboring Massachusetts. He also spent more on TV ads than anyone except for Romney and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz." Specifically, the article reported that Giuliani held 126 events in New Hampshire and spent $2.5 million on television spots through January 1.

NPR's Jaffe falsely claimed "Iowa never played a role in [Giuliani's] strategy"
On NPR's Morning Edition, while reporting on Giuliani's sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, correspondent Ina Jaffe falsely asserted that "Iowa never played a role in his strategy." In fact, in June 2007, Giuliani's campaign manager said: "We are 100 percent committed to winning Iowa and I believe we will do so." Further, in August 2007, the Associated Press reported that Giuliani said: "Our largest staff contingent is now in Iowa. ... We're going to make a big effort in Iowa. We're making a big effort and our strategy was to focus on the caucuses."

NY Sun's Wapshott: Giuliani "barely attempted to go" to Iowa
On MSNBC Live, anchor Alex Witt claimed that Giuliani "is spending very little time and even less money in Iowa and New Hampshire, opting instead to stake his claim on the later states." Later, The New York Sun's Nicholas Wapshott agreed, saying, "Well, he really, as you say, he barely attempted to go" to Iowa. But according to National Journal's The Hotline, Giuliani maintained 12 paid staff members in two offices in Iowa, in contrast with caucus winner Mike Huckabee's 14 paid staff members in one office and second-place finisher Mitt Romney's 17 staff members in three offices. In addition, the New York Daily News reported that Giuliani made "20 stops" in Iowa. Giuliani visited Iowa on December 29, and campaign manager Michael DuHaime visited the state on January 3.

For more information on the media's coverage of Rudy Giuliani, visit Media Matters' website: http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/rudy_giuliani

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