Giuliani touts record as mayor in N.H. ad

updated 11:16 a.m. ET Nov. 21, 2007

CONCORD, N.H. - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani focuses on the economic improvements he made in New York and the drop in the city's crime rate in a new television ad that began airing in New Hampshire Wednesday.

"The world's 17th largest economy. Swimming in red ink. Record crime. Runaway taxes. A million on welfare. That was New York," an announcer says. "Until Rudy."

Giuliani faced a more than $2 billion budget deficit despite a tax rate of almost 9 percent. Giuliani said the tax rate scared away business; hotel taxes were $24 a night, compared with $8 in other major cities at the time. And in 1994, almost one in seven New Yorkers were on welfare.

In the ad, which starts in New Hampshire and Boston television markets, an announcer highlights Giuliani's response: "He cut taxes 9 billion. Welfare 60 percent. Crime in half. The most successful conservative turnaround in 50 years."

Web extra video Rudy Giuliani on the economy July 23: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican presidential candidate, discusses the economy. NBC News Web Extra

"In America's most liberal city, Rudy delivered. And he can do it again, in a place called Washington, D.C."

In his standard campaign speech, Giuliani says he cut taxes 23 times. His rivals say Giuliani opposed some reductions, and he takes credit for some at the state level rather than city level.

His campaign says he saved New Yorkers more than $9 billion and cut welfare rolls by 640,000 to the lowest number since 1966.

Picking the president: The candidates Click to visit that candidate's MSNBC page or click the XML symbol for an RSS feed. John McCain                Barack Obama

MORE FROM

Section Front

Obama campaign head gets big book deal Officials turn down Franken request Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008 First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount... Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots Section Front   Add headlines to your news reader: