Giuliani defends money strategy
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2008 5:46 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
MIAMI, FL -- Giuliani rode atop a bright red fire truck for two miles today at the Three Kings parade. Giuliani and the broader parade drew thousands of predominantly Hispanic residents to the streets of Little Havana, and the occasional protester.
Giuliani and his staff glistened with sweat as he waved to those gathered for the parade, getting down occasionally to shake hands or speak to Spanish-language media. It was an enthusiastic crowd, which chanted “Viva Rudy,” as the campaign’s theme music -- the theme from the Notre Dame football movie with the same name -- blared from the campaign bus behind him. A live elephant also trailed behind.
Giuliani is on the first leg of a three-day bus tour, and he kicked it off with an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” He continued to put a rosy picture on his financial situation, after more than a dozen staffers agreed to go without pay for January.
“That was a very generous gesture on the part of that group of people who wanted to make sure that, you know, every last penny was available for Florida, for what follows,” Giuliani said. “It really isn't necessary.”
Giuliani was asked several times about the campaign’s strategy – cutting back on advertising in New Hampshire and not campaigning in Michigan and South Carolina. “The reality is as these primaries played out, certain people were very strong in some, and you had to look for the opportunity where you had the best chance to demonstrate your strength,” he said. “And it turned out that the analysis was that Florida was the best place for us to do it. Florida also comes on January 29th. It's kind of a gate opener to the February 5th primaries.”
Campaign aides said they plan to be competitive in Feb. 5 states, regardless of their standing after Florida. One senior aide said the campaign planned to focus advertising on California, Illinois and Missouri, assuming advertising is not necessary to win the New York tri-state area.
“We own the tri-state area,” said national chairman Patrick Oxford, talking to reporters while walking along the parade route. “We’re also tough on March 4th; we’re tough in Texas and Pennsylvania.”
Giuliani’s ride on the fire truck was considered controversial because some firefighters have complained of his leadership before and during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But only one person protesting Giuliani on that issue was found.
He was also trailed by several pro-life protesters with megaphones, which has become a common occurrence.
