A novice Staten Island politician’s past as an FBI mob buster is earning him comparisons to the young Rudy Giuliani — and his candidacy for Vito Fossella’s old congressional seat has caught the former mayor’s eye.
Michael Grimm, a decorated Marine who served in the first Gulf War and was an undercover FBI agent chasing mobsters and white-collar criminals for 11 years, has been dubbed “Rudy 2” by his chief backer, former Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari.
Giuliani, who put his share of mobsters and white-collar criminals away as a federal prosecutor, said he was impressed after a recent sit-down.
“He’s a very interesting candidate. There are things about him I find appealing,” Giuliani said of the rookie seeking to oust Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon.
Grimm, 39, reciprocated by saying he was “honored” to meet Giuliani and admitting that, yes, they “talked shop,” recalling their law-enforcement days. He added that Giuliani offered to meet again over lunch.
Now all Grimm needs is to raise money. The only other declared GOP candidate, Michael Allegretti, a former aide to state Sen. Martin Golden, has already collected nearly $200,000.