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Giuliani Reminds That Campaign Is 'Real' While Touring Florida
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ShareJanuary 13, 2008 7:00 PM
ABC News’ Jan Simmonds reports: Touring the Miami area today, Rudy Giuliani was greeted by large enthusiastic crowds where he pressed his message that "Florida counts."
"First of all, I want to remind everyone that this is a real campaign," Giuliani told reporters aboard his press bus today, making light of how his campaign has been perceived in the media of late before getting back to message.
"They’ll actually start voting tomorrow, it’s a combination of absentee ballots and early voting. Who knows what percentage of the vote will be cast before the 29th," Giuliani said, trying to drill home his message that while other candidates are campaigning in Michigan and South Carolina, Floridians will be going to the polls.
Giuliani and his campaign reminded reporters often today that Florida should not be overlooked.
"It’s an important primary, very important to me, so we’ll be campaigning here not exclusively but it's gonna be our main focus for the next week, two weeks," said Giuliani, noting he will do "whatever it takes."
When a reporter -- in reaction to stories that Giulian's campaign is suffering money woes -- asked whether Giuliani would lend his campaign some of his own money, the former New York City mayor said he would not consider that option.
"I never have," he said. "I believe that the way that you run for office is you raise money, you gotta raise money among the people and you've got to have their support in order to run."
The crowds at his stops today were overwhelmingly positive, a far cry from the tepid reception he often received in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Among his stops was a visit to the El Rey Jesus Church (the first time he has visited a religious ceremony publicly as a presidential candidate), where he spoke before a crowd of about 6,000.
Later in the day, Giuliani also marched in the Three Kings Parade in the Little Havana section of Miami, where tens of thousands greeted him warmly.
"It was a very enthusiastic event," Giuliani said. "Miami is a very important stronghold for us, the Cuban American community is an important electorate, but also the City of Miami. It's one of the places where we get a very strong vote, and its one we are gonna count on."
There were also a handful who also came out today against the former mayor. Most notable were three anti-abortion protesters, who had also made their presence felt in New Hampshire last week. At each of Giuliani's events today, the three men tried to shout down the presidential candidate for his stance on abortion. But their attempts to dissuade onlookers were for the most part unsuccessful as supporters out shouted them with chants of "Rudy, Rudy."
Another publicized planned protest at the Three Kings Parade organized by firefighters upset with Giuliani’s actions on Sept. 11 and during the aftermath of the terror attacks also did not appear to come to full fruition. Only one firefighter was seen protesting Giuliani at the parade within view of the mayor.
On Monday, Giuliani’s three-day bus tour heads to the western side of the state with multiple stops up and down the coast.
January 13, 2008 in Dodd, Chris | Permalink | User Comments (3)
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Who told Rudy that building 7 was gonna come down? Why were the FDNY using the SAME radios that didn't work in '93? Why did they get rid of the steel from the WTC? (You know... the EVIDENCE) Why is Rudy's main foriegn policy advisor (Norman Podoretz) the lead advocate for spreading the war into IRAN? How can it be allowed that Rudy is a main canidate for president when his firm "Giuliani Partners" has made millions off of 911? Why were the victims remains allowed to be dumped into a landfill? Why were the federal employees at the collapse site in hazmat suits and had filters to breathe when EVERYBODY ELSE we're given PAPER MASKS!!! Why was Manhattan opened up for buisness when the air was still full of asbestos and pulverized concrete? Why isn't anybody helping the first responders who are dying everyday from exposure to the air at Ground Zero. WHY, RUDY, WHY??? Please America, WAKE UP!!! And hold this man accountable!!!
Posted by: rw3 | Jan 13, 2008 8:52:48 PM
I was in midtown on 9/11 when tragedy struck, and I can say with authority that Rudy's performance on that day and in the days afterward was heroic. From great tragedies, great heroes emerge, and that's exactly what happened on that day. Rudy's actions during the greatest crisis in American history is enough to earn him my vote, and anyone who says that's "all" Rudy talks about should be ashamed of themselves for making light of an event that killed 3,000 Americans on American soil. If you were in NYC on 9/11, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The fact is, however, Rudy spends the vast majority of his time talking about how he plans to bring accountability to Washington, and get rid of corruption, in the same way he did it in NYC. Rudy took a failing city, and turned it back into the "Greatest City in the World." This takes vision, guts, determination, and courage - and Rudy is the only candidate who has what it takes to defeat "business as usual" in DC. Cut taxes, cut spending, stay strong - that's Rudy. If you think the next 4 to 8 years are going to be a smooth ride, vote for any other candidate - but if you think we're in for some major changes requiring big decisions, your only choice is Rudy. NOW is the time for Rudy's supporters to spread the message, to their family, friends, everyone - vote Rudy!
Posted by: Joe Sanscrainte | Jan 14, 2008 1:56:12 PM
As one who enjoys a political campaign, learning something from each one and from each candidate in one, I am looking forward to hearing from Rudy more often, now that he says his campaign is 'real'. I must say I am not delighted by his strategy to avoid the first states, and concentrate on the big ones, and the super-duper Tuesday that, I think, slightly corrupts the intent of the primary season. I will be impressed if he can pull it off after giving everyone else such a head start. Show me something, Rudy.
Posted by: SteveW | Jan 14, 2008 2:48:21 PM
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