Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has enjoyed a double-digit lead for the better part of the year but is starting to feel some heat as Senator Fred Thompson (who overtook John McCain a month ago in the RCP Average) is beginning to chip away at Giuliani's sole grip on first place, even leading in a few polls.

Today, Giuliani continues his tour through Iowa, a state his campaign makes clear will not make or break his bid. Having pulled out of the state GOP's straw poll in August and having made clear that he plans to concentrate more heavily on Florida and the February 5th states than on early states, the campaign isn't in strong shape among Hawkeye staters, but it could be worse. Polls in June showed Giuliani in second or third place, a perfect position for success or heartbreak.

If it's success Giuliani finds (measured by headlines that tout his "strong finish despite few campaign stops in the state"), he could knock several conservative second-tier candidates out of the race, which may not, in the end, be good for him. The more conservatives in the race, the more votes that would otherwise have gone to a "consensus conservative" will be divided.

If it's heartbreak (measured by headlines that scream about him getting thumped by Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson), Giuliani may not get to those February 5th states he will rely on so heavily.

Iowa is fraught with danger for the former New York Mayor. Which is likely why Giuliani has lately tacked right, playing up his promise to appoint "strict constructionist" judges in the model of John Roberts and Samuel Alito. The New York Post says he's engaged "in a bid to woo social conservatives" with the focus on judicial nominees, though it's probably fair to assume that the campaign isn't terribly pleased with the notion that, in July of 2007, the NYPost calls the trip Giuliani's "first major campaign sweep through Iowa."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for another candidate suggests that Giuliani's play to the right may not be so effective when he rushes to make sure he's clear on the point that he won't have a litmus test for judges on Roe v. Wade.

The trip is only two days long, followed by a long weekend retreat with fundraisers and supporters. There will be cocktail parties, golf, yachting and lots of dinner. "It's like Giuliani fantasy camp," says one person who will attend.

Also today, during a conference call with bloggers and reporters, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was asked how he felt about manned space travel, especially to Mars. He said he wouldn't mind sending a few people to the Red Planet right. "I'd sure like to put together a passenger list," he said, before pleading not to be asked who exactly would be on that one-way voyage.

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