Giuliani Moving in on Romney Turf Thanks to Moveon.org

Whatever else may be true of the snivelling "Betray Us" ad that Moveon.org ran last week, on thing is certain: Rudy Giuliani is getting massive media exposure out of it and is moving on to the front burner in states that matter. Today's Des Moines Register has a feature about the war between Giuliani and Moveon.org. Giuliani wouldn't have had the campaign funds necessary to buy the goodwill that story will generate among conservative Iowans.

Ultimately, this election will narrow down the issues about which people care, and I suspect that protecting the United States from attacks by Jihadis and their cohorts will rank highly on the agenda. Giuliani, by standing front and center and defending the military, is scoring points on that count.

The other side of the coin is that by taking on Moveon.org, Giuliani is shifting the spotlight from Romney to himself in places like Iowa. It is safe to say that, in spite of the new dates for caucuses and primaries, Iowa and New Hampshire will still play important roles in establishing momentum. If Giuliani can knock off Romney in one or the other, his "Florida Firewall" may well work.

This latest controversy is a step in that direction.