Giuliani's holiday spirit
Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 7:03 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Giuliani is up with two new ads today, catching the holiday spirit that seems to be going around among presidential candidates.
In the first ad, airing in New Hampshire, Giuliani lists his holiday wishes, including “peace with strength. Secure borders. A government that spends less than it takes in. Lower taxes for our businesses and families.” He also says he really hopes “that all of the presidential candidates can just get along,” eliciting a hearty laugh from Santa Claus. “Ho, ho, ho, ho,” Santa says, handing Giuliani a candy cane, “I was with you right up until that last one,” to which Giuliani responds, “Can’t have everything.”
In the second ad, primarily for the Internet, Giuliani gives a similar list of the “same gift” he will be giving America this Christmas. “And probably, a fruitcake or something,” he says, eliciting an unhappy response from a voice off stage. “What? It will be a really nice fruitcake, with a big red bow on it, or something like that,” Giuliani says, before wishing people a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays next to Santa.
In both ads, Giuliani is clad in a red sweater vest, with a Christmas tree behind him, and absolutely nothing that can be misconstrued for a crèche. It is also the first ads where Giuliani wears glasses. Giuliani is obviously trying to inject humor into the Republican race, which we have not seen from him on the campaign trail in recent weeks.
Campaign aides said the ads were filmed weeks ago, before Huckabee went on the air with his Christmas message.
NOTE: Giuliani’s plane broke down in Kansas City and the campaign decided, instead, to drive the two hours from there to Columbia, Mo., for a town hall. The town hall was pushed back two hours. The campaign had one other stop scheduled in Chesterfield, which the campaign said they’d try to make.
