State GOP Chairman Joe Mondello has told Rudy Giuliani that he needs an answer by early fall on whether New York City’s former mayor is running for governor next year, The Post has learned.
Mondello and top aide Tony Santino conveyed the message on Friday in Giuliani’s Manhattan office, sources said.
“Rudy was very understanding about letting the chairman know by the fall,” said a GOP insider.
Many Republicans believe Giuliani is, by far, their strongest contender, but they also believe their candidate – whoever it is – needs to begin raising money for the race as soon as possible.
Some Republicans have expressed concern that Giuliani will delay a decision until it’s too late for someone else to raise enough money..
Mondello refused to comment on specifics of the conversation, saying only, “I had a very good conversation with the mayor and some members of his staff, and the topic of the governorship certainly came up.”