Informed Speculation

Rudy Giuliani is finally stirring again after months of playing Hamlet, and a run for the roses is starting to look more likely again:

Ramping up his political operation, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has hired a former director of President Bush’s six-figure donation programs to raise money for his political action committee.

An adviser to Mr. Giuliani, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the fund-raiser, Anne Dickerson, is focused on helping Republican candidates in the 2006 election. Yet given her donor lists, Ms. Dickerson will also expand Mr. Giuliani’s own fund-raising base if he chooses to run for president in 2008.

Mr. Giuliani confirmed Monday, during a trip to help candidates in Iowa, that he was weighing a presidential bid and wondering if he stands a chance of victory, given that his support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control is considered detestable to many Republican voters. He said he would decide after the November elections.

I’d still put the odds of a Rudy run at less than even – but a month ago I would have said 3-1 against. We’ll be keeping in eye on this one, you can bet…