Posted on 01/05/2007 5:35:09 AM PST by areafiftyone
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has held a New Year's Eve bash in his Times Square offices for years, but this year he had some special guests: a bevy of New Hampshire political activists.
The contingent from the Granite State - home to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary - snacked on sushi and watched the ball drop from inside the cozy confines of Giuliani's 22nd-floor offices.
He kept the chit-chat personal, but those in attendance said they left with the unmistakable sense that Giuliani is putting together a real campaign staff in New Hampshire and elsewhere as he mulls a 2008 presidential bid.
"I would definitely say he is gearing up," said Dan Philbrick, a GOP activist from New Hampshire's Strafford County who rang in the New Year with Giuliani.
There was more evidence of that yesterday: Aides to Giuliani announced they'd hired Katie Levinson, the communications chief of California Gov. Schwarzenegger's successful reelection campaign, as well as the top spokeswoman for Republican Jim Nussle's failed bid for governor of Iowa, Maria Comella.
California and Iowa are both critical battleground states.
Although aides to Giuliani said yesterday no one has been officially hired in New Hampshire, insiders said Jeff Semprini, the son of former New Hampshire Republican Party chief Wayne Semprini, was ready to hit the hustings for the former mayor in the state.
Both Semprinis were at the party, as was Charlie Reynolds, the former police chief and mayor of Dover, N.H., who said yesterday he remains undecided.
"People in New Hampshire like to look a candidate in the eye and shake their hands at least once before making a decision," he said.
Although Giuliani tops most Republican polls in the 2008 race, he is widely seen as behind other GOP contenders - among them Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney - in building a field organization.
Originally published on January 5, 2007
((((((Rudy Ping)))))))
Rudy the riveter.
LOL! The GiuliArmy is beginning to take shape!
Rudy's obviously not a "real American" as beef was not served, and he's out of touch with the working class who were not-so-cozy on the streets of Time Square.
Rudy might have also donned a party hat, a clear sign of cross-dressing (could a Rudy-hater please post the Marilyn Monroe pic?).
/sarc
LOL! You bad! Twenty lashes with a wet noodle for you!
(from the Rudy-as-Marilyn pic)
NH has more than its share of political hacks who are buyable. This report is more proof of that fact.
I would pick him over McCain... but that's no compliment.
LOL GiuliArmy
Many can be bought for some meaningless title (Assistant Associate Volunteer Campaign Head of South Succotash County) and a free meal.
If it wasn't so sadly true, that would be funny.
Rudy Married his 2nd Cousin. He is a sick man.
He's not a sick man and you don't know him to say that. Get over it! Apparently he didn't know about it at the time and sometimes you have relatives you don't know about in your background. And its not a crime or against the law so get real here!
You are dilusional.
And before you comment on the spelling, it is with an e not an i.
"I would definitely say he is gearing up," said Dan Philbrick, a GOP activist from New Hampshire's Strafford County who rang in the New Year with Giuliani.
This whole article is meaningless considering 'St.' Rudy's 140 page 'battle plan' was lost (ha-ha-ha) and now everyone in the English speaking world KNOWS 'St.' Rudy is running.
My tagline says it all......
Oh, for pity's sake, at least attack him on something worthwhile! Geneticists don't care whether you marry your 2nd cousin, and it's not illegal. At least find a new slur.
God love ya Areafiftyone - you are open to the anti-Rudy-ites attacks - some are funny, some are odd, and some are really troublesome.
In the course of this campaign I hope our side (the right) will maintain perspective about what the issue is today.
National SECURITY.
The world is only getting more and more scary - and we need a solid (call it as you see it) leader.
With the first debate only 4 months away - we will quickly see who rises to the top.
Right now - it's three - Rudy, Mitt, and McQueed
I suspect we are headed into a great season.
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