Democrats blast Giuliani over Kerik
newsday.com
9:33 PM EST, November 8, 2007
Bernard Kerik hadn't even been indicted when the Democratic National Committee hit "send" on a blistering e-mail Thursday that questioned Rudy Giuliani's relationship with the disgraced former police commissioner, calling the scandal "Kerik-gate."
As news broke of Kerik's likely indictment Friday on federal charges, political analysts and former campaign strategists predicted that while Republicans may tread lightly on the issue, Democrats are likely to seize on the Kerik connection to undercut Giuilani's central campaign themes, leadership and security.
"The Kerik indictment has the potential to be somewhat of a catalytic moment in the campaign," said Democratic strategist Jenny Backus. The indictment of Giuliani's former top cop "goes at his greatest strength and raises questions about it," she said.
Kerik is expected to be indicted on corruption and tax evasion charges, accused of allowing mob-connected builders to renovate his Bronx apartment while they were seeking city contracts with the city.
In 2004, Giuliani recommended Kerik for the post of Homeland Security chief, but Kerik withdrew his name after questions were raised about his past.
Giuliani told ABC News Thursday he made a "mistake" by not sufficiently checking Kerik's background, and even compared Kerik to former President Richard Nixon as a person who had both triumphs and flaws.
Nevertheless, Giuliani said that if voters look at his record as mayor, they will "say to themselves that if he makes the same balance of right decisions and incorrect decisions as president, the country will be in pretty good shape."
Kerik's indictment raises the prospect of an ongoing criminal trial while Giuliani is campaigning for president. It's possible Giuliani himself could be called to testify if Kerik is charged with lying on his application for the homeland security post -- papers Giuliani Partners reportedly helped prepare.
While Democrats are likely to hit the Kerik issue hard, Republicans may be more reluctant -- uneasy about beating up on "America's Mayor" and a fellow Republican. Instead, experts said, look for Giuliani's Republican opponents to take indirect swipes, stepping up mention of issues like "government corruption," for example.
An internal Romney campaign memo leaked to the Boston Globe in February suggests his strategists considered Kerik one of Giuliani's top weaknesses.
"They don't want to seem too negative within the primary context," said Jack Pitney, professor of government at of Claremont McKenna College in California, "though they may frame the issue in terms of questions: 'Why did Rudolph Giuliani hold Bernie Kerik so close for so long?'"
For Democrats, the Kerik-Giuliani connection is an easy target. They say it has strong parallels to the loyalty President George W. Bush displayed for people like former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who remained in his post long after calls for him to step down. |
