(CBS/AP) Ten presidential hopefuls descended on Washington Wednesday to court the nation's largest firefighters union for its endorsement, but the gathering was noteworthy mostly by who wasn't there: former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the Republican frontrunner best known for standing with first responders at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

While his absence was surprising, some members of the International Association of Fire Fighters union do not view Giuliani kindly, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

"He showed up for a few funerals after September 11th. He shook some hands. But, you know, what did he do before then? What has he done since then?" asked Sam Fresina, a New York State union member.

Giuliani has been feuding with the firefighters over recovery efforts at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks. Instead of attending the firefighters conference, Giuliani spent Wednesday evening at a $2,300 per person fundraiser in New York, talking about energy issues. Some campaign officials told The New York Times the fundraiser may have garnered more than $2 million for Giuliani's White House run.

While unions are overwhelmingly Democratic and the firefighters union has never endorsed a Republican candidate for president, Giuliani remains in good standing with first responders across the nation, Jim VandeHei, executive editor of Politico.com told CBS' The Early Show.

But, VandeHei said, the animosity between Giuliani and the firefighters union "certainly is damaging."

The real question, he said, is whether the unions can "make enough of a stink about Giuliani to take off a little bit of that 9/11 luster?"

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates promised on Wednesday to provide better health care for military veterans, saying troops returning from Iraq have received shoddy care under the Bush administration.

Democrat Barack Obama said he's tired of officials who talk about supporting the troops but don't provide adequate health care.

"They don't do anything except slap a yellow ribbon on the back of their SUV," the Illinois senator said.

"When our veterans come home, I don't want them forgotten in run-down buildings," Obama said to loud applause from the union's members.

The union counts about 1,000 members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, with many more who have returned from the war and continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserves. Revelations of poor outpatient care at Walter Reed Medical Center clearly has touched a nerve.

"They didn't plan for the war; they didn't plan for the return of the injured," said Robert Carver, president of the Florida Professional Firefighters. "We're structured very similar to the military, so that gets our attention real quick."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she was heartbroken to learn that returning soldiers were languishing at Walter Reed. John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said Walter Reed is a symptom of problems throughout the Veterans Administration that he would address.

"We have got to stand by the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, including many heroes in this room," Edwards said.

Clinton broadened her message to include health care for firefighters and police officers, as well as veterans, saying they'd become invisible to the government. She tapped into some resentment against President Bush by accusing his administration of failing to provide for the very firefighters he stood with in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"It's great for photo ops, but how about taking care of the people who have taken care of us across the country," the New York senator said, drawing a standing ovation.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., also prompted a standing ovation when he declared: "Our veterans deserve the very best medical care this country can provide. That ought to be something that every one in America can come to terms with — that that couldn't happen here in the United States."

Republican John McCain, who did not address the controversy over veterans' health care, quieted the crowd with a defense of the administration's decision to increase troop levels in Iraq.

"The war has not gone well. We failed early on to recognize that we faced an indigenous and foreign insurgency in Iraq," the Arizona senator said.

Gen. David Petraeus, Mr. Bush's choice for top military commander in Iraq, "was ordered to Baghdad to execute a new strategy that realistically addresses the threats we face there," McCain said. "The hour is late but we must try. We must."

"I'm guardedly, and I stress guardedly, encouraged that Gen. Petraeus' plan is achieving more progress than expected."

Republican candidates Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California also did not mention Walter Reed. But Gilmore promised, "We're going to follow a policy under my administration that's going to be supportive of the troops."

The union backed Democrat John Kerry in 2004.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Back To Top