ST. PAUL — Rudy Giuliani fired up the Republican National Convention crowd Wednesday by attacking Barack Obama as an inexperienced “celebrity senator” and flip-flopper unready to lead the country.

The former GOP presidential candidate and New York mayor had the crowd chanting “Rudy, Rudy” with a tough speech that tore at the Democratic standard-bearer. It also effectively warmed up the crowd for GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who immediately followed him.

He drew more laughs by dismissing Obama’s background as a “community organizer” who emerged from Chicago machine politics.

The former mayor, who led New York City during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Obama has “never had to lead people in crisis,” and said the presidency was no time for on-the-job training.

“This is not a personal attack; it’s a statement of fact,” Giuliani said. “Barack Obama has never led anything.”

He said Obama is not ready to take the 3 a.m. crisis call, a nod to a political ad used by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) against Obama in the Democratic primary.

“And that’s the one time we agree with Hillary,” said Giuliani to more applause. “I bet you never thought Hillary would get applause at this convention.”

Giuliani was repeatedly interrupted by applause, and he mugged for the crowd while mocking Obama’s 130 “present” votes in the Illinois legislature.

“It was too tough,” said Giuliani, who shrugged his shoulders and wore a confused look on his face to make fun of Obama’s failure to vote yes or no.

“I didn’t know about this vote present when I was mayor of New York City,” he said.

Giuliani, who is personally close to John McCain, had nothing but praise for the man who defeated him for the GOP nomination. He called him a national hero willing to take on his own party and sacrifice for his country.

McCain has been tested “time and time again” by crises and has passed every test, according to Giuliani.

Most of Giuliani’s address focused on foreign policy and which candidate was more ready to lead the country. He did not spend a lot of time on the economy, although he said McCain would lower taxes so that the economy would grow. He also said McCain would reduce government spending, expand free trade and make America independent of foreign oil through an “all of the above” approach that would include offshore drilling and expanding nuclear power.

Giuliani torched Obama for flipping on positions to improve his political standing, including his decisions to turn down public financing for his campaign and to vote in favor of a bill that gave telecommunications companies immunity for the role they played allowing the government to tap lines while acquiring information on terrorist groups.

“I hope for his sake, Joe Biden got that VP thing in writing,” Giuliani said of Obama’s running mate, a senator from Delaware.

Giuliani also criticized Obama’s shifting response to the Russian invasion of Georgia. Obama initially called on both sides to show restraint before criticizing Russia for being the aggressor, a stance Giuliani likened to McCain’s initial statement about the conflict.

“Here’s some free advice: Sen. Obama, next time just call John McCain,” Giuliani said.
Giuliani, a centrist who topped GOP polls last year despite his views in favor of abortion rights, also said McCain would enlarge the Republican Party, like former President Ronald Reagan did. He noted McCain’s record of bipartisan cooperation and said he would credibly reach to win votes of Democrats and independents.