Rudy Lowers Boom On Obama

Former NYC Mayor's RNC Speech Focuses On Democrat's Inexperience, Defends Palin, Reinforces Party's Unity

Sep 4, 2008 2:25 am US/Eastern

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CBS) ― Rudy Giuliani has passed his hatchet man test with flying colors. Giuliani may have lost the presidential nomination, but he's relished his major role as party defender and attack dog at the Republican National Convention. The former New York City mayor and keynote speaker wasted little time Wednesday night before attacking Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's inexperience.

Giuliani took the stage at the Xcel Energy Center and first touted Republican nominee John McCain's credentials as a lifelong American leader. He then unleashed a scathing offensive against Obama.

"On the other hand, you have a resume from a
gifted man with an Ivy League education," Giuliani said of Obama. "He worked as a community organizer, and immersed himself in Chicago machine politics. Then he ran for the state legislature, where nearly 130 times he was unable to make a decision yes or no. He simply voted 'present.'"

Giuliani said he was never afforded such a luxury as mayor of New York City and Obama is in for a rude awakening if he thinks he can take that kind of cavalier approach into the White House.

"When you're President of the United States, you can't just vote 'present,'" Giuliani said. "You must make
decisions." Giuliani referred to Obama as a "celebrity senator," with "no leadership or major legislation to speak of." "His rise is remarkable in its own right. It's the kind of thing that could happen only in America. But he's never run a city, never run a state, never run a business," Giuliani said. "He's never had to lead people in crisis. This is not a personal attack. It's a statement of fact: Barack Obama has never led anything." "So, our opponents want to reframe
the debate. They would have you believe that this election is about change versus more of the same. But that's really a false choice because 'change' is not a destination ... just as "hope" is not a strategy."

Giuliani also intimated that Obama is a politician who changes his position to suit his own interests. "How many times have we seen Barack Obama do that? Obama was going to take public financing for his campaign, until he didn't. Obama was against wiretapping before he voted for it.

When speaking to a pro-Israel group, Obama favored an undivided Jerusalem, until the very next day when he changed his mind. "I hope for his sake, Joe Biden got that VP thing in writing."

Earlier Wednesday, Giuliani told CBS 2 HD why Sarah Palin will be a great vice president. "She is one of the most successful governors in this country. She is one of the most popular governors in this country and the way she's being dealt with is really below the belt. And it is really, really unfair," Giuliani said.

Whether defending Palin or boosting the campaign, Giuliani has casted a big shadow at the convention. He has been literally everywhere. "We didn't have any Republicans saying John McCain isn't prepared to be president the way Hillary Clinton said about Barack Obama, the way Joe Biden said about Barack Obama.

This is a united party," he said. The man who likes to be known as America's mayor said he's gotten over licking his wounds from his failed attempt to get the GOP nomination himself. "It's a little bit easier for me because I'm supporting a good friend in John McCain," he admitted.

Still, there is talk of a political future for Giuliani.

"I think he certainly could run for governor. He has good executive ability and would make a great governor and I hope he would consider it," said Edward Cox, Chairman of New Yorkers for
McCain.

Adds Upper East Side resident Bruce Blakeman: "Rudy's a viable guy. He was a great mayor and certainly if he wants a political future he can have one." Some say, however, based on his failed runs for higher office, they don't see the fire in the belly. "He pulled out of the Senate race against Hillary and he essentially pulled out of this thing. I don't know what's going on in his head, but he didn't see it through," said Rhinebeck Delegate Wayne Baden.

So CBS 2 HD asked Giuliani about his future plans. "Right now I'm only thinking of one thing: getting John McCain elected for this country," he said. "We're not thinking about after that."