Rudy, the impersonator
Posted: Sunday, November 04, 2007 12:32 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli
WEEKEND GIULIANI NOTEBOOK
SHELBURNE -- Most of the people who came to the Town & Country Motor Lodge Friday night came to see an Elvis impersonator. The sign outside the Town & Country Inn, in fact, read, "WELCOME MAYOR RUDY AND ELVIS." But those who came to see
Giuliani enjoyed an unexpected performance themselves, as the Republican frontrunner imitated Democratic rival
Hillary Clinton.
All week, Giuliani has criticized Clinton for her answer to a question at Tuesday's Democratic debate about a plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. And he ratcheted up that criticism during stops in the North Country of New Hampshire today, most dramatically when asked about the proposal during a town hall meeting in Shelburne.
"Oh gee, I can't figure out what I think," Giuliani said, sarcastically. "Don't pick on me by asking that question! That's a gotcha question!" Giuliani paced back and forth in the front of the crowd, and asked the audience for a show of hands to tell him what they thought. "I'm for it," he said, stepping to his left. "I'm against it," he said as he jerked to the right. "I'm for it and against it. And I want to be your president," he concluded, grinning from ear to ear, as the crowd roared.
Stepping out of character, Giuliani, playing himself, then took aim at Clinton. "Give me a break," he said. "If you think a question about drivers licenses is a tough question, a gotcha question, you're not ready for Ahmadinejad." He called the New York proposal a "terrible mistake," but said he respected those who were willing to take a position on the issue, specifically referring to
Barack Obama. "Being a leader requires an ability to make decisions," he said.
Earlier, as he spoke to a handful of patrons at the Northern Exposure diner in Errol, Giuliani said Clinton's alleged changing positions resembled the last Democratic nominee. "I remember last time
John Kerry used to be accused of being a flip-flopper," said Giuliani, standing in front of two elk heads mounted on the wall. "She makes him look like an amateur. … He flip-flopped, but usually it took a week or two. And I don't know what she's thinking in trying to be all things to all people. But I don't think America wants a commander in chief like that."
All day, the immigration question provided Giuliani an easy attack line. Other questions weren't as easy for the former New York mayor as he campaigned in a part of the state where it has been said that moose outnumber voters. "They said when I was driving up here I was gonna see a moose, and I haven't seen one yet," Giuliani told patrons at the Errol diner. "I hope I do."
Errol is one of New Hampshire's northernmost towns, with a population of just 294, according to the 2005 U.S. Census estimate. Dixville Notch, famous for its tradition of tallying the first votes in the first-in-the-nation primary and for Stephen Colbert’s reference to the town on Meet the Press, counted just 26 ballots after midnight in 2004.
In Errol, when a phone rang during Giuliani’s remarks, he said to go ahead and answer the cell phone, noting his history with such interruptions. Those on hand quickly corrected him, saying it was a landline phone and that cellular service is nonexistent here.
At Dixville Notch, Giuliani was asked how he'd deal with rural problems. "Give me one problem or another," Giuliani said, unable to think of a problem himself. He eventually conceded that there "aren't too many rural areas of New York City," but said it's been a "wonderful experience" to visit rural areas like this.
Later, in Berlin, Giuliani began an answer about gun rights by first taking aim at the media, which the voter had mentioned in his question. "You are very, very discerning to notice that the New York Times is an enemy," Giuliani said. Eventually, he noted that he reduced shootings by going after criminals with guns. He then said he understands the constitutional right to bear arms for law-abiding citizens. "They probably agree with me on everything else," he said.
Still, voters here seemed prepared to give Giuliani a fair shake, even though his experience is primarily based on urban issues.
"We would need to know that he's watching out for us," said Rick Erwin, an undeclared voter in Dixville Notch who otherwise likes Giuliani's position on foreign policy.
"I like him. I like his tough talk,” said Mark Campbell, an independent voter from Dummer. “I like the fact that I think he's capable of taking on Hillary."
