Giuliani Abandons Bid, Endorses McCain

At Ronald Reagan Library, Former Mayor Calls McCain "An American Hero"

(CBS/AP)  Rudy Giuliani, who sought to make the leap from New York mayor to the White House, bowed out of the Republican presidential contest Wednesday and endorsed front-runner and longtime friend John McCain.

With McCain at his side, Giuliani called the Arizona Senator "the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States."

"This is a man prepared to be President of the United States at a time of great peril," Giuliani added.

McCain acknowledged his former rival as "my strong right arm and my partner."

"This man is a national hero and I'm honored by his friendship," he said.

The former New York City mayor went on to call for a "stronger and broader Republican Party."

"I'm hopeful we can secure his election very soon so we can unite our party and begin the process of uniting our nation," Giuliani said.

The announcement took place just after 6 p.m. ET at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif.

Giuliani vowed to campaign for McCain in whatever capacity he is asked.

"When I believe in a man like I do John McCain, this will become to me as important as my own election was," Giuliani said.

"I expect him to be fairly active for McCain," said Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican and adviser to Giuliani. "There is a real friendship and respect between the two," he said.

Once the Republican presidential front-runner, Giuliani suffered a debilitating defeat in Tuesday's Florida primary.

The former mayor finished a distant third to the winner, McCain, and close second-place finisher Mitt Romney.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Giuliani delivered a valedictory speech that was clearly more farewell than fight-on.

"I'm proud that we chose to stay positive and to run a campaign of ideas in an era of personal attacks, negative ads and cynical spin," Giuliani said as supporters with tight smiles crowded behind him. "You don't always win, but you can always try to do it right, and you did."

Tuesday's result was a remarkable collapse for Giuliani. Last year, he occupied the top of national polls and seemed destined to turn conventional wisdom on end by running as a moderate Republican who supported abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.

The results seriously decimated Giuliani's unconventional strategy, which relied heavily on Florida to launch him into the coast-to-coast Feb. 5 nominating contests.

But Florida proved to be less than hospitable. His poll numbers dropped and key endorsements went to McCain.

While Giuliani had hoped that his presidential campaign would serve as an example of how an unorthodox strategy could propel a candidate to his party's nomination, it instead appears more likely to be remembered as a cautionary tale, reports CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli.

While his rivals were making headlines for their early victories, the former New York City mayor faced a flood of negative stories about his personal life and judgment, many tied to third wife Judith Nathan and disgraced longtime ally Bernard Kerik.

"Giuliani got a significant amount of bad press for about a week and a half for personal issues while everybody else was getting good press from the early primaries," said Tallahassee-based political consultant Brett Doster. "The negative personal stories combined with the resurgence of John McCain - the only guy in the field who had more credibility on national security - began to suck all the oxygen away from Giuliani's part of the aquarium." (Read more on Giuliani's Disappointing Fade To Exit)

[abbe91]

"Only that this economy was in great shape until the midterm elections when the democrats too charge of congress. Just like with Reagan."
LOL

"Don''''t worry, McCain will get us back on track, and the election will return the majority to the GOP.
Posted by trapbreak at 08:45 PM : Jan 30, 2008"

Let''s just hope that his poor judgment improved since Keating Five then ...

[abbe91]

"How did anyone actually think Rudi Gulliani was qualified to be President?
Posted by Pensacola88 at 07:11 PM : Jan 30, 2008"

I''m pretty sure his friends from Qatar A-Thani and KSM believed he was ...

[abbe91]

"I agree 100%. When McCain goes out there selling the same tired old lines.. cut taxes and cut spending she will simply ask him were he''''s going to cut. They can''''t balance a budget and they can''''t govern.
Posted by MCVet at 08:57 PM : Jan 30, 2008"

I guess he''ll sing "Bomb Iran"

[apinchofsalt]

Dear Huckabee supporters!

If you want Huckabee to get his far share of news time let your voices be heard. We need to bombard the networks with emails. We believe Huckabee can still win! Stand up for what you believe in and stop letting news decide the candidates!

A place to start:
[e-mail]

Don%u2019t stop at TV shows, email newspapers, family, friends, and senators too! Go Huckabee!

[sophielhu]

Even the Fox News Channel and their talking heads will become obsolete. Bill O''''''''Reilly and Rush Limpdrugs will both go the way of the dinosaur...
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[herpeslove]

Even the Fox News Channel and their talking heads will become obsolete. Bill O''''Reilly and Rush Limpdrugs will both go the way of the dinosaur...

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[herpeslove]

Even the Fox News Channel and their talking heads will become obsolete. Bill O''''Reilly and Rush Limpdrugs will both go the way of the dinosaur...

###############################
I''m Charlotte, was once lonely and devasted due to herpes even all the guys said I am so hot. It was changed since I joined the trusted and anonymous herpes dating site $$ pozgroup.com $$ I started my hot blog, upload my wonderful photos,made many friends.... Catch me by WildOne.

[briannorwood]

Goodby to the pathetic little man who looks strikingly like Simon Bar Sinister from the Underdog cartoon.

We''ll miss hearing you say "9/11".

[briannorwood]

When asked why support John McCain, Rudy responded, "9/11".

[cpaide]

With McCain at his side, Giuliani called the Arizona Senator "the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States."

I''ve got news for you dumb@ss politicians: we aren''t electing a commander in chief to rule over the people. there is no commander in chief of the U.S.

This shows how clueless Giuliani, McCain and all other career politicians are with regard to constitutional law.

The Constitution of the United States gives the title to the President of the United States, who "shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."

Maybe if we elect someone less fit to be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, we won''t get into another "war" that enriches the President''s cronies at the expense of the taxpayer.

[spinster2]

As a democrat, I''m glad to see McCain move out front. Next to democrats, there''s nobody who enjoys sticking his finger in the eye of republicans more than John McCain.

I also enjoy seeing republican voters stand up to Hanniity, Limbaugh, and Bennet to name a few. This group and some religious conservative leaders like to jump on the bandwagons of the favorites to create the illusion that a candidate can''t win without them. It''s pathetic and I take great pleasure in watching them come to grips with reality.

Now I just waiting to see Ted "whiskey breath" Kennedy''s group to do the same thing. If there is anything that becomming increasingly obvious is that the people are tired of letting the wingnuts speak for them.

Amen

[zlicdic]

HI, I''m a white male Hetero-Repug Arizona Senator who is looking for some rough stuff. I like to be lied to and have my a$$ whipped. Interested? Meet at mens room Denver airport, east-wing, stall #6. tap toes to identify.

[spires01]

Ron who? lol

[Krazcarl]

jeff92705....You havve no idea what your talking about do some reading don''t listen to bull at the bar he wants a feance but I question that approach he is NOT for an open border. Do some reading don''t be bought so easily.

[nothappyatall]

GHOULIANI goodbye!

[stevex47]

For me, it''s fairly easy. With all due respect, the last 8 years sucked big time. No way I''m stayin'' this course.

The 8 before that werea whole lot better in my opinion.

[truthspeake2]

MCVET,

I do know my history and that''s exactly what''s wrong with this country right now, so called history and experience and we can''t take anymore of going down that same road. We The People don''t own it anymore.

[truthspeake2]

MCVET,

I do know my history and that''s exactly what''s wrong with this country right now, so called history and experience and we can''t take anymore of going down that same road. We The People don''t own it anymore.

[antizion]

Once again america chooses between the pervert scum bags blackmailed by the Israelis.

Elections are a joke in america, just like our zionist puppet government. Germany all over again.

[mcvet]

MCVet - McCain lost big to Bush...now McCain is Bushes lap dog...McCain said he has no idea about economics...Hilliary is going to go after the jugular with that one...How can you possibly be president, if you have no idea about economics...he also doesn''''t think before he speaks. Anyone wanting the Republican corruption and war mongering to end with VOTE DEMOCRAT!!


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Posted by zoe2006 at 08:32 PM : Jan 30, 2008
+ report abuse

I agree 100%. When McCain goes out there selling the same tired old lines.. cut taxes and cut spending she will simply ask him were he''s going to cut. They can''t balance a budget and they can''t govern.