Rudy Giuliani has begun to reach out to Republican bigwigs to talk up Joe Lhota’s potential run for mayor, The Post has learned.
Staten Island GOP powerbroker Guy Molinari said Giuliani called him to arrange a meeting to discuss Lhota.
“He wants to talk to me about Lhota and his potential candidacy,” said Molinari, the former SI borough president and congressman who is close to Giuliani.
Molinari said Giuilani’s support for Lhota would be a big deal in GOP circles. Staten Island is the political base of the city’s Republican Party, and no GOP mayoral candidate has a prayer of winning office without strong support from the borough.
Lhota, who is stepping down as MTA chairman, served as top City Hall deputy when Giuliani was mayor.
“Rudy is a loyalist,” said Molinari, who said he will back Lhota if he decides to run.
Molinari said Anthony Carbonetti, a confidant to Giuilani and Lhota, has been among the advisers sending out feelers about a Lhota candidacy.
Staten Island GOP chairman Bob Scamardella said he would “strongly consider” endorsing Lhota, whom he described as a real Republican, if he decides to run.
But the race on the GOP side remains unsettled.
Manhattan and Queens party leaders have leaned toward backing supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis. The Bronx and Brooklyn GOP bosses favor former Bronx Democratic borough president Adolfo Carrión.
Asked about Lhota, Catsimatidis said, “The more, the merrier. Let’s see how this plays out. Mr. Lhota has to prove he can raise money.”
Catsimatidis can dip into his own fortune.
Still, in the heavily democratic city, any GOP candidate faces a tough race in a general election.