Neither NY Mayor Is White House Worthy

Deeming New York City "several light years away from the heart of America," New Republic writer Michelle Cottle assaults the qualifications of Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg to be president. Cottle calls Rudy's leadership style the "pugilistic, divisive, f-you approach" and Mike "the perfect presidential candidate to win the Vanity Fair primary."

Labeling both big-city boys "provincialist," she highlights their lack of foreign and domestic policy experience. In terms of electability, she finds Rudy politically untenable to win the conservative vote, and Mike too wishy-washy, neither a Naderite "demagogue" nor a "nutter" like Ross Perot. Her advice: They should both stick to skyscrapers. (More Rudy Giuliani stories.)