Giuliani Abandons Bid, Endorses McCain

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

(CBS/AP) 
Surveys of voters leaving polling places Tuesday showed that Giuliani was getting backing from some Hispanics, abortion rights supporters and people worried about terrorism, but was not dominating in any area.

McCain, addressing his own supporters moments later in Miami, gave Giuliani a warm rhetorical embrace.

"I want to thank my dear friend, my dear friend Rudy Giuliani, who invested his heart and soul in this primary and who conducted himself with all the qualities of the exceptional American leader he truly is," McCain said. "Thank you, Rudy, for all you have added to this race and for being an inspiration to me and millions of Americans."

Kathy Frankovic, director of surveys for CBS News, said it is likely many of those who favored Giuliani will now support McCain. (Read more from Frankovic on who the Giuliani and Edwards departures help in the two races.)

Giuliani hung his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on his leadership. His stalwart performance as New York mayor in the tense days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington earned him national magazine covers, international accolades and widespread praise.

Steadfast in a crisis, as a candidate Giuliani was a bundle of contradictions, so much so that he liked to joke that even he didn't always agree with himself.

A moderate-to-liberal New Yorker who backed abortion rights, gay rights and gun control in a party dominated by Southern conservatives, Giuliani became a Republican mayor of an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Campaigning for national office, he claimed to have created the most conservative government in the most liberal city in America.

After earning a reputation as a tough-talking, even abusive executive, Giuliani the presidential candidate was mostly mild-mannered in debates, even as those around him got meaner.

Giuliani, 63, first gained prominence as a crime-busting federal prosecutor in New York City. Jailing mob bosses, Wall Street executives and corrupt politicians helped propel his next career as a politician, but it wasn't an immediate success. He lost the first time he ran for mayor in 1989 before winning in 1993.

As mayor, he fostered a take-charge image by rushing to fires and crime scenes to brief the press, but some critics felt he was more concerned about taking credit from others for what became a historic decline in the city's crime rate during his tenure.

A bout with prostate cancer and the very public breakup of his marriage with second wife Donna Hanover - she first learned he was filing for divorce when he made the announcement at a televised news conference - forced Giuliani to withdraw from a race for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000. The messy divorce was revisited in awkward detail once he re-entered politics.

With no working strategy in his presidential campaign, no primary victories and dwindling resources, the mayor's third-place finish in Florida spelled the end of his run, even if his crestfallen supporters couldn't believe it.

"They'll be sorry!" a woman with a New York accent called out to the mayor as he spoke. "You sound like my mother," Giuliani joked.

[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...
-----------------------------------------------
Internet is a good place to share information and meet friends. I recently found
a nice web site called pubspa.com where you can meet friends who have same interest in beauty care, massage, wellness and spa treatment. You can also share blog, video, game, photos, etc with people from all over the world. Unlike other online dating sites where you have to pay membership fee, this site is totally free. I already made several interesting friends there.

[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.

[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.