Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, appearing before campaign supporters Tuesday in Glendale, used his moderate brand on issues like abortion rights and immigration to appeal to California Republicans and deflect recent political shots from his GOP presidential rivals.
Giuliani's visit to Southern California came as the National Right to Life Committee announced that it was endorsing former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), who ranks second in national polls on the GOP race. The committee said he was the candidate with the best chance of beating Giuliani, who supports abortion rights.
As that was announced, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- who will be campaigning in Southern California this week -- accused Giuliani of coddling illegal immigrants while he was mayor.
Giuliani appeared unfazed. As Romney, Thompson and the other GOP candidates try to build momentum for the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, and with socially conservative voters in the Midwest and South, Giuliani has zeroed in on California, New York and other big states -- where his moderate stances on social issues and his anti-tax agenda have received a warmer reception.
"I expect to win the Republican nomination, but believe it or not, I don't expect to win every vote," Giuliani told reporters after learning of the antiabortion group's endorsement of Thompson. "I'm going to be myself. I'm going to do the best that I can to explain to the American people what I believe, and then I am very comfortable with their judgment as to whether or not they think that's enough, or they don't."
Giuliani stopped at his state campaign headquarters in Glendale, offering a pep talk to a room full of volunteers, after attending an early morning fundraiser in Irvine and another in Chinatown.
On ready display in Glendale was his post-9/11 tough-guy persona and emphasis on national security issues, both of which have helped give the former mayor a double-digit lead over his closest Republican challengers in national polls.
He assured his supporters that the U.S. can "achieve victory" in Iraq. Giuliani added that he had the conviction and political strength to protect America from terrorist threats and dangers posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions, pointing to his experience in New York after the Sept. 11 attacks and the drop in crime in the city during his tenure as mayor. "We're going to make sure this country is strong, strong against terrorism, strong against any would-be enemy, strong economically," he said.
