A Front-Runner’s Political Baggage: “With the same rootless confidence that causes people to ignore hurricane warnings, many social conservatives remain in denial about Rudy Giuliani’s chances of winning the Republican nomination.

But with three debates and eight months as the Republican front-runner under his belt, Giuliani’s political strength cannot be dismissed as a fad or a fluke. His skills as a campaigner are considerable. His political strategy is plausible: Play down Iowa and New Hampshire, win Florida on Jan. 29, and sweep the big states (New York, California, Illinois) on Feb. 5, securing the nomination before a social-conservative reaction can set in. The Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney camps have their own victory scenarios, but they are not more likely.

So it is not too early for Republicans to consider some consequences of a Giuliani nomination.” — Michael Gerson (Washington Post)