Rudy Giuliani is set to throw his endorsement to 2010 GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio a press conference tomorrow, where he’s also expected to indicate he’s not running for US Senate himself next year, Republican sources told The Post.
The move likely closes the electoral career of Giuliani, who was known as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and who has since created a multi-tiered career of speeches, consulting and security work, and a law practice.
But he plans to continue to be a force within the party, helping to expand the base of the GOP and develop candidates for next year, as well as speak out on issues that are important to him. Those include lobbying against the congressional Democrats’ health care proposals, the 9/11 trials being held at the federal courthouse near Ground Zero, and the economy and the ballooning federal deficit.
He also recently signed a contract for an Olympic gig in Rio.
Giuliani, a 2008 presidential hopeful, had made clear to his inner circle weeks ago that he’s not running governor, sources said.
But Giuliani had left the door open to challenging appointed Sen.
Kirsten Gillibrand, a Chuck Schumer protege who has failed to connect with voters in repeated polls.
That would have fit with the hopes of newly-minted State GOP chairman Ed Cox, who is looking for a strong challenger for one of the top offices – and who had pushed for the prospect of Giuliani running for Senate months ago, at a time when the former mayor was still eyeing the governorship.
And some Giuliani boosters saw it as an effective way to seek the presidency But privately, several Giuliani friends suggested the move would really be a stepping stone to seeking the presidency again – and the former mayor is entrenched in and enjoying his current lifestyle, sources said.
The Giuliani endorsement of Lazio is slated for tomorrow afternoon at the Sheraton hotel in Midtown.
Lazio may end up being joined in the GOP primary field by Erie County Executive Chris Collins, who recently attended a meeting of GOP officials that included newly-minted state GOP chair Ed Cox.
Collins had said he wouldn’t run if Giuliani did, but since it became clear the ex-mayor wasn’t mounting a challenge, he has started making the rounds.
Giuliani and Lazio circled each other in a GOP primary 10 years ago, when the ex-mayor bowed out of the US Senate race to battle prostate cancer.
At the time, Lazio had delayed a decision about entering the fray against Hillary Rodham Clinton until Giuliani made his intentions clear. This time, he started out early, and has been lining up endorsements – including from GOP chairs in major counties like Suffolk.