Rudy Giuliani, in an extremely rare move for a presidential candidate, unveiled a radio ad yesterday that candidly reveals how he survived prostate cancer.
“I had prostate cancer five, six years ago. My chance of surviving cancer, and thank God I was cured of it, in the United States, 82 percent. My chances of surviving prostate cancer in England, only 44 percent under socialized medicine,” he says in the ad, airing in New Hampshire.
Giuliani uses the personal tale to discuss his health-care plan, which would offer Americans tax deductions to encourage them to buy their own health insurance.
It is also a swipe at Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom he has criticized for focusing on government-run programs.
Political observers said the move reminded them of another presidential candidate: Democrat Paul Tsongas, who discussed his own bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a campaign TV ad in 1992. He is believed to be the only other White House hopeful to have opened up about a cancer struggle during a campaign.
The Tsongas campaign ran a memorable ad showing the candidate, sporting tight Speedo trunks and goggles, swimming laps in an Olympic-sized pool.
“Guts and determination helped Paul Tsongas beat the odds and go on to beat cancer,” the narrator said.
Tsongas died in 1997 of liver problems stemming from his treatments for the disease.
Democratic political consultant Chris Lehane – who worked for Bill Clinton’s campaign against Tsongas – said the Giuliani ad “has the potential to do more harm than good” and will put pressure on him to release his medical records.
Others said it was a deft move.
“It’s very clever. It’s a two-fer. He’s attacking Hillary Clinton and saying, ‘By the way, I survived prostate cancer.’ It’s a riveting story. It humanizes him,” said University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato.
Giuliani’s rivals also have survived cancer.
Sen. John McCain had a serious form of skin cancer, and Fred Thompson has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which he said is in remission. Neither have mentioned his illness in campaign advertisements.