Giuliani begins to move beyond Sept. 11

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EPA	In his own words Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani touches upon the primary themes of his presidential campaign.
	Cartoons: Giuliani MSNBC.com's editorial cartoonists weigh in on Rudy Giuliani's candidacy.
AFP/Getty Images	Slide show: Slice of the Big Apple Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s life has shined in the limelight of New York City.

Giuliani’s campaign quickly fired back. Giuliani’s communications director, Katie Levinson, said Biden’s comments were a “desperate attack” and that she personally had a better chance of becoming president than the Delaware senator.

But since then, when Giuliani speaks of running New York City during “difficult times,” he is quick to note he is not just speaking of 9/11. He reminds reporters and voters that the hard times include a crime wave and fiscal irresponsibility before he became mayor. He speaks often of his “executive experience,” contrasting himself to the three front-runners for the Democratic nomination, all current or former senators.

“The reality is the mayor has a very good story to tell,” said campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella. “He has a career that spans different areas and makes him a more complete candidate.”

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It is a tough line for Giuliani to walk. Much of the name recognition and support he receives along the campaign trail comes from people who first noticed him after the terrorist attacks. Talking to voters at a diner or ice cream parlor, he is often met with firefighters and police officers who describe him as a hero. He is asked to sign photos of the Twin Towers and news clippings from that day.

But some have taken it too far. Donors have given the Giuliani campaign $911 or $9.11; which the campaign has returned. And the campaign got a lot of unwanted attention when one California fundraiser invited guests to the September online house party for a $9.11 entry fee.

And Giuliani’s legacy on 9/11 is not indisputable. He continues to be dogged by members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, who claim Giuliani’s mistakes before the terrorist attacks — specifically not replacing the radio network firefighters use to communicate and placing the city’s command center in the World Trade Center — added to the lives lost.

“New York City firemen are completely outraged that he talks about it so much,” said Jim Riches, deputy chief of the Fire Department of New York, who was a battalion chief on 9/11. “He’s someone who has made millions of dollars on a national tragedy, and now he’s trying to parlay it to be president of the United States.”

‘Different part of his biography’
Comella stressed Giuliani is not ashamed of his 9/11 record, and continues to speak about it when asked.

“I think what you’re seeing this week, and in the coming weeks, is just a different part of his biography,” she said.

The Giuliani campaign has been able to save a lot of money because it does not need to go on television in early primary states, introducing their candidate to the public. In fact, Giuliani has yet to air a single television ad. So many people know him, campaign staffers say, and have a positive image of him. But analysts said they are now playing catch up to show Americans an image of Giuliani that moves beyond just one day.

“That’s how he was introduced to most people,” Feehery said. “It was important to remind voters who he is. Now they have to remind them what he has actually done.”

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