New York Republicans bailing on Rudy...

FEARFUL New York Re publicans are rethinking their 2008 campaign strategies because of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's faltering bid for the White House, The Post has learned.

Republican leaders, especially those involved in the crucial battle to retain GOP control of the state Senate, had hoped an energized Giuliani candidacy would attract independent and moderate Democrats to their ballot line in what is widely expected to be a big Democratic year.

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.

"Rudy isn't where we thought he would be and there's a growing likelihood that he's not going to be our nominee," said a leading New York Republican.

A GOP senate strategist said, "We're no longer planning our campaigns based on the assumption that Rudy will be the nominee."

Furthermore, Republicans - who once hoped Giuliani could carry New York in a presidential contest - are now convinced the state won't be in play even if Giuliani does end up as their party's nominee.

"New York isn't going Republican even if Rudy is the nominee," a GOP official conceded.