RUDY TO UPSTAGE KERRY
By DEBORAH ORIN
NY Post
July 21, 2004 -- WASHINGTON — Rudy Giuliani is getting a starring role during next week's Democratic convention — as the lead Republican rebutting John Kerry on the day of his big speech to the nation, sources say.
Republican strategists said the former mayor will be in Boston to speak to reporters on the morning of July 29, just hours before Kerry's address accepting the Democratic nomination for president — the speech seen as the convention's key moment.
"John Kerry is going to try to convince the American people he's a strong leader, but Americans know that Rudy Giuliani is a strong leader," said a senior Republican strategist.
"And Rudy Giuliani can help explain that a strong leader isn't somebody who votes to send troops to war [in Iraq] and then votes against funding them" — a reference to Kerry's vote against $87 billion, including money for troops, last fall.
Giuliani — seen as "America's Mayor" since the 9/11 attacks and a possible presidential contender in 2008 — is one of the GOP's most popular speakers and works closely with the Bush White House. He has a major speaking role at the GOP convention in New York next month.
As a household name, Giuliani has a better chance of getting news coverage in Boston than other Bush allies.
Giuliani will be part of an aggressive Republican counter-programming push at the Democratic convention in Boston. It's standard practice for the other party to show up at the convention to speak to reporters.
Republican operatives say they plan a press conference at 10 a.m. every day of the July 26-29 Democratic convention.
On Thursday, the key day, Giuliani will be joined by former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who lost a Senate race to Kerry, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn as they try to spoil Kerry's coronation party.
One of Giuliani's closest aides, former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik — who served a tour training police in Iraq — is also part of the Republican effort in Boston and will be there on July 28.
NEW YORK POST |
