Giuliani: "Leave My Family Alone"

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani said Thursday that people should "leave my family alone" after being asked by a New Hampshire woman why he should expect loyalty from voters when he does not get it from his children.

Giuliani has a daughter who has indicated support for Democratic candidate Barack Obama and a son who said they did not speak for some time. Giuliani's ugly divorce from their mother, Donna Hanover, was waged publicly while he was mayor of New York. Giuliani has since remarried.

Answering questions at a town-hall meeting, Giuliani was asked why he should expect loyalty from Republican voters when his children are not backing him.

"I love my family very, very much and will do anything for them. There are complexities in every family in America," Giuliani said calmly and quietly. "The best thing I can say is kind of, 'leave my family alone, just like I'll leave your family alone.'"

His comments were greeted with a smattering of applause from the audience of about 120 people. Giuliani urged them to judge him based on his performance as mayor and a federal prosecutor, and he launched into a list of his successes such as reducing crime and welfare and prosecuting organized crime figures and drug dealers.

The questioner, Derry mother Katherine Prudhomme-O'Brien, 36, said she was not certain about Giuliani's answer.

"If a person is running for president, I would assume their children would be behind them." she said. "If they're not, you've got to wonder."

Giuliani focused on health care during the hour-long forum, saying that buying health insurance ought to be like buying insurance for cars or a home, with people buying their own policies with different deductibles and types of coverage.