McCain Stumps For Giuliani

Nearly a month after giving up his presidential effort, Arizona Sen. John McCain was back on a campaign bus on Tuesday urging New Yorkers to elect his "soul mate," Rudy Giuliani, to help reform big-money politics.

In Giuliani, "I think I will have a staunch and strong ally in the United States senate for campaign finance reform," McCain told a town hall meeting of more than 100 people at Long Island's American Legion Post 694.

The New York City mayor agreed with McCain on campaign finance reform, even though Giuliani aims to raise $20 million - some of it in soft, or unregulated, donations - in his battle with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I have to be competitive," said Giuliani.

If voters like McCain's pugnaciousness, the senator said, they'll love Giuliani.

"We need more mild-mannered, even-tempered individuals like Rudy and myself who will never rock the boat or say anything that's controversial in nature," McCain told the laughing crowd. "I look forward to having a soul mate in the United States Senate."

Told by one member of the audience that Clinton has alleged Giuliani lacks the temperament to get along in the Senate, Giuliani poked fun at his own reputation. "Did she say that?" he roared at the questioner. "Sit down! Shut up!"

"I'm very forceful in my advocacy," the mayor added. "Maybe Washington needs a little of that."

The name of the party's likely presidential nominee, George W. Bush, came up only in passing, as when McCain threw in what stands for now for an endorsement.

"I support the nominee of my party, I've had conversations with Governor Bush," McCain said, though he has not said when he would endorse the Texas governor, or under what circumstances. The senator confirmed on his way into the hall that he would seek more agreement from Bush on campaign finance reform.

For his part, Giuliani mentioned Bush's campaign in answer to a question about whether Republicans can hope to win New York State. The mayor said he keeps reminding the Bush campaign that Ronald Reagan won the state in 1980 and 1984, and that Bush can, too, if he can attract moderate Republicans and Democrats - the same coalition that propelled McCain to victory in New Hampshire and Michigan.

McCain took a trip down memory lane on a bus hired by Giuliani - without the "Straight Talk" logo - to the senator's first campaign event since his campaign collapsed March 7 in the Super Tuesday primaries.

Giuliani is in a tight battle with Clinton for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Giuliani endorsed Bush during the primary season but declined to attack McCain.

McCain's support might help Giuliani with the independents and moderate Democrats who helped McCain beat Bush in New Hampshire and Michigan. Those voting blocs are key constituencies in New York.

The Senate race could become he most expensive contest for a seat in that chamber in history, with Clinton's campaign trying to raise $25 million and Giuliani's camp shooting for $20 million.

The race has been tight, but a poll late last month showed the mayor has been hurt by his unsympathetic response to the March 16 killing of Patrick Dorismond, a security guard who was killed by an undercover officer in a botched police drug sting.

Dorismond was the fourth unarmed black man shot to death by New York City police in the past 13 months. After each case, Giuliani has defended the police.

McCain said he's sure Giuliani will have a chance to show more sympathy during the campaign, and that New York residents will give the mayor credit for the city's falling crime rate.

On another topic, McCain said his Commerce Committee will hold hearings on Microsoft, but he declined to comment on Monday's antitrust ruling.

And McCain said he misses riding along with reporters aboard his "Straight Talk Express" and has talked to his GOP colleagues about the press corps' professionalism.

"I've tried to convince my Republican friends they're not the enemy," McCain said.