Trying to regain momentum in the GOP primary battle, Rudy Giuliani is set to deliver what the campaign is calling a “major” address in Tampa, FL Saturday morning.

Campaign Manager Mike DuHaime told Fox News today that the former NYC mayor intends to discuss his accomplishments and experience in NYC, but focus on emphasizing a “vision for the future.” The argument in sum: “(There is) one leader who is tested, been tested in times of crisis, who is ready to lead right now, looking forward to the challenges this country may face….there are two things you have to look at for any candidate. What is their vision for where they want to take America? And then, do they have a track record that proves that they can do what they are saying they are going to do? With the mayor you have someone with a great vision and also somebody with a track record who has done what many people thought was impossible.”

While the message (part national security and part fiscal conservative) does not deviate much from what we are hearing on the stump or in his TV ads, Giuliani has lost track of the news cycle as of late, and the campaign is billing this as a chance to begin making his closing argument to voters. Giuliani rarely gives formal speeches, usually opting for meet and greets at diners or short statements at the top of town hall meetings.

With recent polls showing the former NYC mayor now tied with a surging Mike Huckabee in national polling and after spending nearly two weeks responding to negative stories about his personal life and business career, Giuliani is seeking to shift the paradigm and start fresh with less than a month left before the primaries. And he intends to make the case on the closest thing to home turf—the Sunshine State–where he maintains a double digit lead in the polls. Giuliani sees Florida as his firewall state–a must-win in case he fails to win any of the first five primary states.

To borrow the words Hizzoner usually reserves for his national security policy, he sees it as time for him to stop playing defense and start going on offense. But offense this time around is unlikely to include attacks on his opponents, aides say, rather we will see a candidate endeavoring to look presidential and stay above the fray as Huckabee, Mitt Romney, et al. battle it out and go negative. In fact, in recent days, Giuliani has refrained from responding the latest attacks made by the former Massachusetts Governor—ones Giuliani would have quickly jumped at only a week ago.

But there are a few of wildcards here:
-How long does the Huckasurge last and when will the Giuliani campaign feel threatened?
-How long will Rudy be able to hold off on responding to attacks? (This is the same guy who got his first pair of boxing gloves and never backs down from a fight.)
-Will a largely repackaged stump speech now billed as a “major” address really make an impact?