Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been bestowed frontrunner status for the Republican presidential nomination, but talk to ardent party supporters, and he really isn't the guy they want to see in the race.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is a social conservative, but he is little known outside of the clubby atmosphere of the U.S. Senate, and he's not seen as a major candidate. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gained some prominence for his role in saving the Olympics in Salt Lake City, but he doesn't have the national stature.

So who is really the darling of the GOP? Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

He might be a liberal Republican when it comes to social issues — he has long stood for gay rights and pro-choice laws — but he is Mr. Law and Order, and that plays right to the ideologue troops in Georgia, South Carolina and other Republican strongholds.

It has been five years since Sept. 11, 2001, and Giuliani is still bequeathed hero status for his role in leading the Big Apple during those horrendous months after the destruction of the World Trade Center. He's clearly seen as the man to beat.

That's why Democrats shouldn't sit back and let him continue to build up a war chest and fat approval ratings. If the Republicans have used every attempt to contribute to the low approval ratings of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., then the Dems should do the same to Giuliani.

The typical pattern is to allow the party's respective nominees to slam their opponents, hoping voters will take notice in the primaries. But that is a dumb move this time. It makes no sense to allow Giuliani to build up a major head of steam. By allowing him to be seen as the savior of the party — many think McCain is too much of a maverick — they risk even more of a halo being placed around his head.

Although many called him "America's Mayor" after the terror attacks, people forget there was a pre-Sept. 11 Giuliani that wasn't the example of a politician.

He was accused of being grossly insensitive to the family of a black man shot numerous times by the police, and his rudeness was the talk of City Hall. Not only that, but he was crass enough to tell the media he was divorcing his wife, Donna Hanover, before telling her!

There is a lot more that can be used to show America the other side of Giuliani, but Democrats seem to be too timid. If the goal is to mortally wound a candidate, then you take your shot. Waiting for August 2008 may very well be too late, especially with polls today showing Giuliani beating Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a head-to-head matchup.

But this is where Democrats often fail; they play touch football while the GOP is more like Ultimate Fighting — the bloodier the better.

If there were a Democrat who enjoyed iconic status like Giuliani, they would be all over his desperate appeals to social conservatives by distancing himself from his past support of gay rights and abortion. They also wouldn't let plans to appoint strict constructionists to the federal bench pass without slamming him. The man is flip-flopping left and right, and the Democratic PR machine is stale.

Part of this is a result of top party officials silencing Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Where has he been, sitting in Vice President Dick Cheney's old undisclosed location? Dean is the right guy to go after Giuliani. That leaves the Democratic candidates to focus on each other's plans. So when will Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rahm Emmanuel, D-Ill., the two forces who cast Dean aside and led the party in taking control of Congress, allow the former Vermont governor to come out and play?

There is no candidate that strikes fear in the hearts of Democrats more than Giuliani. He has mass appeal, can raise money, has huge name I.D. and is strong on defense. He talks tough and walks even tougher.

If successful in wooing social conservatives — and that won't be easy — he might just be planning an extended trip to the nation's capital.

Roland S. Martin is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives On Faith." Please visit his Web site at www.rolandsmartin.com. To find out more about Roland Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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