race for president, it kind of seemed like he was going to be the guy to beat. before he got into the race he was the theoretical favorite unless he started running and then ker splat. the guy who played that role in 2008 was rudy guiliani. everybody in the media thought rudy juliana was the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination in 2008. but then rudy guiliani actually started running and it's kind of like that moment in men in black when they're scouting out the guy who looks like the alien at the news stand in new york city and then the alien starts talking and it's not the guy who looks like the alien. oh, it turns out it's the dog. rudy guiliani's campaign was so bizarre and completely unexpectedly dysfunctional, not only did he not win, he was the laughing stock of the 2008 presidential primary. they had the idea to not compete