Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
From NBC’s John BaiataReuters reports: "Twice-divorced former New York City mayor Rudy
Giuliani took Communion at a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict on Saturday, breaching rules that bar those who remarry outside the Church from doing so. As he left New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral with his third wife, Judith, the failed presidential candidate confirmed to Reuters that he took Communion from a priest. Asked if he was uncomfortable with having broken the Church ban on the divorced and remarried taking Communion, Giuliani said, ‘No.’”
You'll remember that several high-level U.S. clergy have said publicly that pro-choice politicians who are Catholic should be denied communion, and two of them -- Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis and Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs -- have singled out Giuliani.
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
CAMP HILL, PA -- With
McCain called back to Washington to vote in the Senate,
Rudy Giuliani pitched in and headlined a $1,000-a-plate luncheon for the Arizona senator, and said he believed the Republicans can win Pennsylvania.
VIDEO: While campaigning for his former opponent, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani talks to reporters about the differences between the Arizona senator and his Democratic competitors.
“I would consider this for John a very doable state, a state he could win” Giuliani told reporters after the luncheon. “Someone like John McCain that has outreach to independent and to Democratic voters, this is a perfect state for him.” (Indeed, a
recent Pennsylvania poll shows McCain leading both Clinton and Obama in the Keystone State.)
Asked about the potential of a McCain-Giuliani ticket, or even a McCain-Romney ticket, Giuliani demurred. “The choice of vice president is up to John McCain,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll make a very good choice. I’m not going to comment on that at all.”
No stranger to New York controversies, Giuliani said his thoughts were with the Spitzer family. “I feel great sadness for the governor and for his family and for his children,” he said. “He made a decision he believed was the right one, and I just pray for them.”
Although he didn't rule it out, Giuliani said he wasn’t thinking about running for governor himself in 2010. “I’m not considering running for anything right now,” he said. “I’m just back in my law firm, back in business, getting used to my private life, and it’s quote enjoyable. So I’m not thinking about running for anything right now.”
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
Rudy Giuliani and
Tom Ridge will be joining
McCain at his Philadelphia fundraiser tonight, per the McCain campaign.
From NBC’s Andy Merten
As he continues to rack up high-profile Republican endorsements, John McCain today told reporters that Texas Gov. Rick Perry will endorse him this afternoon. The brief mention of Perry, who endorsed Giuliani in October, was prompted by a reporter’s question of whether backing by Rudy and Schwarzenegger -- both who are considered moderate on many social issues -- will truly aid McCain in courting Republican votes next Tuesday.
“I could never, never, ever be anything but honored by the presence of these two great American heroes,” said the Arizona senator in reply, quickly adding that Perry, who is much more conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage, will be backing him.
Perry’s endorsement is likely a by-product of Rudy’s dropping out of the race and supporting McCain.
From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-TreworgySIMI
VALLEY, Ca. – At a very well attended press conference here just a few
hours before he was scheduled to participate in yet another GOP debate,
Rudy Giuliani announced his departure from the presidential race and
his endorsement of John McCain.
"I'm fully aboard,
100%," Giuliani said, announcing that if McCain would have him, he
plans on campaigning on the senator's behalf in Feb 5th states. "I
don't do things half way. I do them 100%, and when I believe in a man
– like I do John McCain – this will become, to me, as important as my
own election was."
With Cindy McCain looking on
adoringly, Giuliani added more evidence to the 'anti-Mitt Romney' story
line, as GOP establishment becomes more content lining up behind
McCain's candidacy.
"There will be a clear choice this
November and I believe that my life has prepared me for a life of
service and a life of dedication," McCain said. "My strong right arm
and my partner and my friend in this effort will be the former mayor of
New York City, all-American hero, Rudy Giuliani."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's John Yang and NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
The end is rarely pretty.
The morning after it was reported that Giuliani was dropping out was particularly chaotic for the campaign. The traveling press corps was asked to be in the lobby at 7:30 am to be bused to the airport for a 9:00 am flight to Los Angeles, including a refueling stop in Texas.
But the only buses that showed up were for a meeting of Wendy's franchisees.
The mayor departed the hotel -- in a pick-up truck.
Still no buses. And no campaign aides to tell us exactly where we were going and what we'd do when we got there.
Calls to officials revealed that more and more of them were heading home to New York instead of accompanying the mayor.
And still no buses.
A campaign aide said there was a problem and that we should get ourselves to the airport.
A fleet of cabs took the assembled reporters to the plane in time to see campaign officials campaign manager Mike DuHaime, campaign advisor Tony Carbonetti, former deputy mayors Randy Mastro and Joe Lhota and the ubiquitous celebrity endorser Jon Voight board the plane. Giuliani boarded carrying his own suit bag. His wife, Judith, was not with him.
And on the tarmac: The buses that were to carry the press to the plane.
From NBC/NJ's Matthew BergerNBC News/National Journal has confirmed that Rudy Giuliani will endorse John McCain tomorrow in California.
From NBC's Matthew Berger
When asked twice by NBC News/National Journal whether he would participate in the debate tomorrow night, Giuliani said, "We're going to California."
Q: Will you be in the debate tomorrow night?
Giuliani: We're going to California
Q: But will you be in the debate tomorrow night?
Giuliani: We're going to California
From NBC's Chris Donvan
Just quickly looked at Rudy Giuliani's book "Leadership" online, and found a couple of lines from it that might be interesting if he ends up dropping out. For example, did "bad breaks" have a part in his defeats? Will he be like the 1976 Yankees he talked of, and come back in a future presidential campaign?
1. “Just as an election victory needs a dozen little things to go right, a defeat can be blamed on any number of separate bad breaks.” ("Leadership," page 55)
2. “There are important skills to be learned from picking yourself up after something goes wrong, to keep moving ahead without letting it throw you off course. When I lost my first race for mayor, I felt that it was like losing the World Series. I came within three percentage points, and to be that close but still lose was both exhilarating and devastating.” ("Leadership," page 107)
Here are the two quotes in context:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger and MSNBC's Brooke Brower
Time.com is reporting that Giuliani is expected to withdraw from the GOP race and endorse McCain as early as tomorrow.
A senior Giuliani campaign aide said he wouldn't comment on the Time.com report.
Giuliani will come on stage in Orlando, FL at top of the 9:00 pm ET hour.
