Rudy's Realization

Would the remaining Republican candidates supporting McCain-Feingold speech restrictions please stand up? Mitt Romney, who once supported restraints on free speech in the name of campaign-finance "reform," recanted months ago. Fred Thompson, who once shepherded McCain-Feingold through the Senate, did as well. And now, the last non-McCain holdout among the major candidates, Mayor Giuliani, has acknowledged his error as well.

In Iowa on Monday, Mr. Giuliani expressed his admiration for Mr. McCain, then said: "I supported McCain-Feingold. … The concept made sense to me." Others always recognized it for the incumbent protection measure it is. In any event, quoth Mr. Giuliani: "Now that I see it play out in a couple of elections, I think it was a mistake. We should get much closer to being able to allow people to — to realize their rights of free speech in the way in which they get involved in campaigns, make contributions to campaigns."