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#1
February 20, 2005 -- In perhaps the strongest evidence to date that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Hillary Clinton are headed for a presidential showdown, a group of influential conservatives said yesterday they expect the two New York pols to top their parties' tickets in 2008.
Of 15 potential nominees to choose from, 19 percent of Conservative Political Action Conference attendees said they expect "America's Mayor" to be the GOP's choice.
Although the poll of 641 people didn't measure personal preferences, it was still surprising that conservatives — not known as fans of Giuliani's stances on abortion and other issues — expect Rudy to be squaring off in the general election.
Newly appointed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was right on Giuliani's heels, with 18 percent.
Three GOP senators — John McCain (Ariz.), George Allen (Va.) and Bill Frist (Tenn.) — were tied with 11 percent.
Things were not nearly as close on the Democratic side, where 68 percent predicted Clinton would be her party's nominee.
That would be like the spurs playing the hawks in the nba finals.
