|
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) offered to campaign for GOP House and Senate candidates this year without asking for anything in return. An aide to the former presidential candidate said that contrary to reports, Giuliani will not require those candidates he helps to aid him in retiring his campaign debt.
Giuliani met with former supporters of his presidential bid on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to thank them for their support and pledge his assistance in a daunting election year.
Maria Comella, an aide to Giuliani, said she thinks the former mayor will hit the trail hard for Republican congressional candidates around the end of September.
“I’d imagine from convention forward he’ll be on the trail,” Comella said.
Comella said that while the former mayor would be grateful for any assistance in helping him retire the approximately $3 million in campaign debt he racked up in his failed presidential bid, it will not be a requirement for him to show up.
“The mayor is going to campaign and fundraise for Republican congressional candidates without expecting anything in return,” she said.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), an ardent Giuliani supporter who attended Wednesday morning’s breakfast, said the former mayor continues to be a huge “draw” in many districts, especially suburban districts where Republicans enjoy his view on the economy and independents applaud his views on terrorism.
Sessions said he and Giuliani are already looking at districts in Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio where the former mayor can be effective. He added that since Giuliani has recently run a national contest of sorts, there is data at the ready illustrating where Giuliani could make the most impact.
Sessions, who described Giuliani as “upbeat,” said there was no grousing at the meeting about Giuliani’s withdrawal from the race after the Florida primary. He noted everyone in the room was committed to helping presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) get elected.
“Sure, he was disappointed. So was I,” Sessions said. “We didn’t rehash it. The day he got out we did that, and then we moved on.”
Sessions also said there was no talk of another run in 2012 if McCain should lose to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) this year.
Comella said much of the morning session was devoted to Giuliani’s take on what Republican candidates should be talking about — a fair and simple tax policy, energy security, winning the war on terror and growing the Republican Party.
The former mayor already has a fundraiser planned for Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) in New York, and he plans to consult with both the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee about where they think he can be most effective as a campaigner.
Sessions said Giuliani expressed his desire to campaign hard on McCain’s behalf, and he hopes to be able to weave in appearances on behalf of congressional candidates while traveling with or for McCain.
Giuliani is viewed as a hero by many Republicans for his actions on and after Sept. 11, 2001. In 2004 and 2006, he was one of the most sought-after Republican surrogates. |
