Giuliani has funraising/creates good cheer on his ridicule the Worst Lady tour:
Tuesday July 27 5:25 PM ET
New York's Giuliani Heads Into Hillary Territory
By Ellen Wulfhorst
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani raised money for his U.S. Senate bid in Hillary Rodham Clinton's home state Tuesday and ridiculed the first lady, his likely opponent, for setting her sights on a political office in New York, where she has never lived.
At a news conference outside the mansion where the Clintons lived when President Clinton was governor, Giuliani declined to answer questions about a local Arkansas issue, saying, ''Right now I'm just here listening,'' a mocking reference to the first lady's so-called ''listening tour'' of New York.
''If I become a candidate in Arkansas, that is something I will have a very strong position on,'' he added.
Clinton, who is considering a run for a U.S. Senate seat opening up in New York, has been conducting her ''listening tour'' since early July. The tour is designed for her to learn about New York issues rather than make policy statements. It is due to resume Thursday.
Giuliani, who has been quick to note Clinton has never lived or worked in New York, initially tried to paint his trip to Little Rock as just one leg of a three-day fund-raising swing through the South.
''I see it as no different as what I did last year when I went to 20 states,'' he insisted as he appeared under magnolia trees in sweltering heat with Arkansas Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee and Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller.
Minutes later he conceded the visit was ''a combination of fun and serious politics.'' Asked if his appearance was meant as a jab at Clinton, he broke into a mischievous grin.
''Oh gosh, I would never do that,'' said the mayor, who is widely known for his sharp tongue and prickly demeanor. ''It's not in my personality to do anything like that.''
By the time the news conference was over Giuliani had promised to raise the Arkansas state flag over New York's City Hall, which was accomplished by mid-afternoon.
As he introduced Giuliani, the Arkansas governor left little doubt where he stood on the possibility that the first lady might run for the U.S. Senate seat in New York.
''He has never been here before. He has never worked here. He's never lived here. Today he will be announcing his candidacy for some major significant political office in Arkansas, or so we're told,'' Huckabee said in jest.
Giuliani, who is not running for office in Arkansas, raised $40,000 at a Little Rock event, aides said. The entire five-stop trip was expected to raise $150,000 to $200,000.
Aides said the trip was also a way to raise Giuliani's national profile as he considers running for the Senate seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Neither Clinton nor Giuliani have officially announced their candidacies, but both have established exploratory committees that enable them to raise campaign funds.
Clinton would have no opposition for the Democratic nomination, but Giuliani would face a possible primary challenge from Republican Rep. Rick Lazio, a more conservative Long Island Republican.
In Little Rock, where residents are well used to politicians and the crowds of reporters that follow, the appearance by the mayor of New York City evoked weary smiles.
''She doesn't need to be up there in New York any more than he needs to be down here,'' said Peter Davis, a farmer's market vendor. ''But I bet people would give him money just to see her lose, just like I bet they give her money to see him lose.''
Outside the elegant governor's mansion, some Giuliani backers held up signs, one misspelling his name ''Rudi'' instead of ''Rudy'' and another reading ''Hogs Against Hillary,'' depicting the University of Arkansas's popular razorback mascot.
A new poll said while Clinton made a good impression during her ''listening tour'' through central New York state in early July, she did not improve her poll numbers.
The survey conducted July 17-19 by Zogby International showed Giuliani leading Clinton by 49.1 to 39.4 percent, unchanged since its June poll when Giuliani led 50.4 percent to 40.2 percent. The survey of 709 likely New York state voters had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
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