"I'm very sensitive. Really, I am."

Any normal, semi-sane person would have been mortified by the series of political pratfalls Rudy Giuliani's been taking lately. From his stumbling performance on "Meet the Press" to a phlegmatic debate appearance to critics stepping up to the plate to debunk the myth of "America's Mayor", Rudy's makeshift machismo that held the rest of the country in thrall is finally flagging. Finally.

The New York Post today announced "NY GOP Cooling on Rudy".

But, pointing to his declining national polling numbers and his surprise slide to third place in Florida, GOP strategists are privately calling Giuliani's own strategy efforts "lackluster," and an increasing number of them now predict that "America's mayor" won't be their party's nominee for president next year.

And this next little tidbit just makes me laugh out loud. Oh, you puny humans, Rudy had scoffed. You know nothing of political judo. I have supercandidate skillz in Florida! Watch my Nosferatu Technique! His much-vaunted "Screw Iowa and New Hampshire, Let's Focus on the Sunshine State" strategy? Pinned to the mat in the first round.

The latest Rasmussen Reports polling in the state of Florida suggests that Giuliani might need to work on a “Plan B.’ Mike Huckabee now leads in the Sunshine State Primary with 27% of the vote. He is trailed closely by Romney at 23% and Giuliani at 19%.

Even Giuliani can't recover from his own tactical stink bombs. From the AP:

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The increased attention Rudy Giuliani has been giving to New Hampshire doesn't seem to be paying off. The Republican still trails in the first-in-the-nation primary and also faces likely defeats in other early voting states.

I know I shouldn't find tremendous satisfaction or heaps of schadenfreude in Rudy's Icarus-esque descent. Does acknowledging that make me a less bad human being? But seriously, how can you not dance a quick jig when you read this?

"The baggage is finally starting to catch up with him," a neutral GOP consultant said.

Ssssh, don't tell him that. After all, this is Rudy Giuliani we're talking about. If he stays true to form, I don't think he'll fade away without at least one more bravura flameout of a performance. We all know by now how he loves the smell of greasepaint. Come on, Rudy. Sing out like the fat lady already. And then get off the stage.

[photo: AP/Mike Carlson]