Rudy Giuliani

Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani III KBE (born May 28, 1944) served as the Mayor of New York City from January 1, 1994 through December 31, 2001. He is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Giuliani Partners LLC, which he founded in January 2002.

Post-mayoralty

After leaving the mayor's office, Giuliani built a security consulting business and gave speeches. On December 1, 2004 his consulting firm announced it purchased accounting firm Ernst & Young's investment banking unit. The new investment bank will be known as Giuliani Capital Advisors LLC and will advise companies on acquisitions, restructurings and other strategic issues.

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In addition, Giuliani is a fan of Nextel Communications, a large distributor of two-way walkie-talkie telephones. Giuliani's Nextel telephone, now housed in a September 11th exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, continued working on September 11th and is a phone he was rarely without on the days that followed September 11th.

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Giuliani, who campaigned on behalf of the re-election of George W. Bush in the 2004 election, was reportedly the top choice for Secretary of Homeland Security after the resignation of Tom Ridge. Giuliani turned down the offer and instead recommended his friend and former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Kerik in his pre-announcement interviews with the White House failed to disclose facts in his past which were certain to disqualify him. After the formal announcement of Kerik's nomination, information known for years to local reporters, but unreported, became widely known. The political fallout was damaging to the perception of competence in the White House vetting process and doubts on the political judgment of Giuliani for recommending Kerik in the first place.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - 2004 election - Secretary of Homeland Security - Tom Ridge - Bernard Kerik - Vetting

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Some have speculated that Giuliani might become a candidate for statewide office in 2006, either for the United States Senate challenging incumbent Hillary Clinton, or for Governor of New York; on July 27, 2005, current Governor George Pataki announced that he would not seek re-election for a fourth term. The consensus of political observers then was that Giuliani would not run against likely Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzerhttp://www.legislativegazette.com/publishers_corner.php?pcid=37; in any case, a Giuliani spokesman says that he "has no intention" of runninghttp://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050803/NEWS01/508040331/-1/ARCHIVE3, leaving no clear favorite among Republicans. Should Giuliani stay out of the Senate race, the Republican nomination will be contested among Jeanine Pirro, Edward Cox, and John Spencer.

Related Topics:
United States Senate - Hillary Clinton - Governor of New York - July 27 - 2005 - George Pataki - Eliot Spitzer - Jeanine Pirro - Edward Cox - John Spencer

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He is also widely reported to be considering a run for the Presidency in 2008. One obstacle to such a national campaign would be his pro-choice stand on abortion. The vast majority of Republican voters and officeholders support more restrictions on abortion than are currently permitted under the Roe v. Wade decision. Members of the Christian right have already announced their intention to oppose Giuliani or any other pro-choice candidate http://www.renewamerica.us/news/040830parro.htm, though anecdotal evidence suggests that even among these voters, he enjoys some support. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/09/opinion/main660178.shtml Indeed, a recent Rasmussen Reports poll indicates that Giuliani is viewed favorably among Republicans by a 63% to 17% margin. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Hillary%20McCain%20Rudy.htm Early 2008 Presidential polls show him with one of the highest levels of name recognition and support. In Copenhagen, Denmark on October 2, 2005, starting speculation on the possibility of his campaign for President of the United States in 2008 Giuliani said "I will be considering it next year." http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/02/guiliani.prez.ap/index.html According to a Fox News poll reported on October 5, 2005, among Republicans, 26% would vote for Giuliani in the 2008 Republican Primaries, 23% would vote for John McCain, 18% for Condoleeza Rice, 7% for Newt Gingrich, 3% for Mitt Romney, and 23% were listed as "Other/Don't know".

Related Topics:
Presidency - 2008 - Pro-choice - Abortion - Roe v. Wade - Christian right - Copenhagen - Denmark - Fox News - John McCain - Condoleeza Rice - Newt Gingrich - Mitt Romney

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