Giuliani brings endorsements for McCain

BY TOM BRUNE.tom.brune@newsday.com

February 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Rudy Giuliani stood in the shadow of Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday as the influential California governor broke a pledge to stay neutral, endorsing John McCain for the GOP nomination.

But Giuliani did get a final moment in the national spotlight last night, going on "The Tonight Show" with McCain and joked around with host Jay Leno.

Mitt Romney, meanwhile, accused McCain of adopting underhanded tactics from disgraced former President Richard Nixon of Watergate notoriety. "I don't think I want to see our party go back to that kind of campaigning," Romney said, again denying McCain's charge he once favored a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

McCain adviser Steve Schmidt responded that Romney "is lashing out because he's unable to defend his comments about a timeline."

Giuliani, who withdrew Wednesday, is already bringing endorsements to McCain, but it's not clear whether Giuliani's monied friends will follow. Among Giuliani backers endorsing McCain yesterday were Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, the New Jersey GOP, and Bill Simon, the former California gubernatorial candidate.

Schwarzenegger even gave Giuliani credit for taking him to McCain. Asked why he abandoned neutrality, the governor joked, "It's all Rudy's fault." He had avoided backing anyone before because both McCain and Giuliani are his friends, he said.

"When I saw Mayor Giuliani, my dear friend, discontinue his campaign and endorsing Sen. McCain," he said, "I felt that it was time for me to also come out and endorse Sen. McCain."

McCain is moving quickly to consolidate his position going into what has become a race between Romney and him in Tuesday's mega-primary, which includes California.

"You will see a flood of endorsements from across this country from both liberals and conservatives," McCain said. "We need all parts of our party together if we are going to win in November."

McCain, a self-described bad fundraiser, desperately needs money, something Giuliani - who raised nearly $60 million from individuals last year, the most of any GOP hopeful - potentially can help him attract.

But top Giuliani fundraisers T. Boone Pickens, who raised $1 million, and Mel Immergut, a bundler in the New York legal community, both told The Wall Street Journal they hadn't decided whom they will now support.

That could be troubling for Republicans, left in the dust by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Yesterday McCain reported raising $37 million last year, not much more than the $32 million Obama raised in January.

Clinton reported raising $106 million last year. The $77 million she spent is more than any Republican ever raised. Romney, the wealthiest of GOP contenders, had not reported by late evening. Nor had Obama.