Rudy leaves 'door open' to 2012, aide says

Rudy Giuliani has "left the door open" for a run at the White House next year, an adviser said Saturday.

But the former New York City mayor was not testing the waters when he sharply criticized President Barack Obama's handling of the Libya crisis during a speech in Manchester, N.H., on Friday night, senior adviser Jake Menges said.

"He is thinking about it," Menges said of a possible Giuliani presidential campaign in 2012. "If there is nobody who can beat Barack Obama, perhaps he will get into the race."

Anthony Carbonetti, a senior adviser on Giuliani's failed 2008 presidential campaign, said Giuliani has mulled a 2012 run, but added, "He hasn't made a decision yet."

Menges said Giuliani "has no timeline set" for deciding whether to run.

In the speech at a Lincoln Day fundraiser for New Hampshire Republicans, Giuliani accused Obama of "dithering" on his response to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's violent suppression of rebels.

"Hillary Clinton would have been better," Giuliani said.

The speech came the day before Obama authorized military action against Libya, saying Gadhafi's assault on his people left Washington and its international partners with no other choice. The United States and the United Kingdom launched missile strikes, and French fighters carried out airstrikes, The Associated Press said.

Menges said Giuliani accepted an invitation to speak at the New Hampshire event and "reconnected" with supporters in the Granite State, which holds the nation's first presidential primary every four years.

Regarding a run for president, Menges said, "He's certainly left the door open." But he added, "That's not why he was up there. . . . This trip was really to help the party."

Giuliani would consider supporting another GOP candidate against Obama, Menges said, mentioning former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, commentator Mike Huckabee and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

"If he thinks he can win, he'll run," Menges said. "If he thinks someone else can beat him [Obama], he'll support him."

Giuliani, in his presidential bid, finished fourth in New Hampshire and third in Florida's 2008 Republican primary and soon withdrew.