Can Rudy Get Past the First Date?

Even when discussing the issue on which he has every reason to shine -- the war on terrorism -- Giuliani was unimpressive, spouting tired Reaganisms ("peace through strength") and arguing a proposition that no one except the straw Democrats of Republican imaginings seems to debate much: that America must "remain on offense" against terrorists.

"We need an American president that understands the necessity of being on offense; needs to explain it to the rest of the world," he said. "And then, finally, what we all need to do is to understand that America has the right ideas. We should not be embarrassed about ourselves. We shouldn't have our heads down."

About Iraq -- nothing, other than to lampoon congressional Democrats for pushing a nonbinding resolution ("I understand that next week they're going to debate the entire week to see if they can make the World Series a nonbinding result.")

As to Giuliani's competition, McCain skipped CPAC; Romney gave a much meatier and more rousing speech -- and he started by bringing up on stage "my sweetheart," his first and only wife. (Take that, Mr. Thrice Married-Once Annulled-Once Divorced-Mayor.)

In the end, one mediocre speech to one crowd 10 months before the first vote is cast will not matter much -- unless it presages more uninspired Giuliani performances.

Time magazine, in one of the more peculiar poll questions ever asked, reported this week that Giuliani is the candidate voters think would do best at speed-dating (16 percent, to Barack Obama's 13 percent).

The 2008 campaign, though, will be more like an overly prolonged engagement -- and it's far from clear whether voters will still want to date the mayor once the getting-to-know-you stage is over.

marcusr@washpost.com