It’s always fun to watch journalists try to influence public opinion in the months (now years) leading up to an election. This election season’s favored son is McCain, a Republican that only a liberal could love — and the press certainly loves McCain.

Deroy Murdock addresses this topic by noting how a smattering of journalists and political analysts are saying McCain is clearly in the lead, far outpacing Giuliani. He then destroys this myth by citing a series of polls and surveys, including a Rasmussen poll that has Giuliani in a clear lead and even non-candidate Rice edges out McCain for second place.

If (and this early in an election season, it’s a big “if”) Giuliani ends up as the Republican candidate for president, I’m going to have a very, very hard time voting for the gun-grabbing, baby-killing RINO.

But Deroy notes:

But his numbers could hold or even rise once Republicans outside Gotham learn that, as mayor, he cut the local tax burden by 19 percent, jettisoned racial and gender preferences for contracting (during his first month as mayor, no less), hunted deadbeat dads and made them pay their child support, implemented charter schools, promoted “vouchers” (always embracing that word), and hosed down seedy, crime-infested areas such as Times Square. It now is safe, literally, for Mary Poppins — a new Disney musical that opened on 42^nd Street, where pornographic films unspooled prior to Giuliani’s tenure.

In all probability another candidate (can you say “Mitt Romney”?) will end up taking the big prize.

But if it comes to pass, perhaps a vote for Giuliani will be possible, but I’ll have to go home and take a shower afterwards. And hide my guns.