Even 8 years ago, Giuliani had attracted more donors and built higher polling than McCain who slayed him. And things have continued to change dramatically since then.
McCain did not slay Giuliani as such implies that they went head to head and one bested the other. Though Rudy's people would have loved for a nationwide single primary day, such didn't exist and it was fought out state by state. Rudy and McCain rarely ever attacked each other during the debates that I recall, whilst Romney and the others attacked both of them. In the end, Rudy's decision to pull out of New Hampshire in favor of Florida created the opening for McCain to beat Romney in New Hampshire. Had Rudy stayed in New Hampshire it is possible he could have come in second and knocked McCain out by relagating him to third. Rudy did more to defeat himself and nominate McCain than anything McCain did to "slay Giuliani".
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