Giuliani dismisses pro-gay views as irrelevant to presidential bid

News 2007-01-12 Giuliani dismisses pro-gay views as irrelevant to presidential bid Giuliani says his pro-gay views irrelevant Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani on

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday dismissed his liberal social views—including support for gay rights—his divorces, and his former aide's imbroglio as irrelevant to a presidential bid. Asked about a leaked political strategy memo that cited such issues as potentially insurmountable obstacles to a campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Giuliani said, ''That is not going to be the issue.''

''I sure have strengths and weaknesses,'' Giuliani said on ABC's Good Morning America. ''I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else that's running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I don't know. You have to sort of examine that. That won't be the issue.''

Giuliani, who formed a presidential exploratory committee last year, said he is still weighing whether to run for president. ''You have to feel inside yourself there is something special I can do—some kind of special experience I have had or background,'' said Giuliani, who became known as ''America's mayor'' for his response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Giuliani made headlines last week when a copy of his nascent campaign's strategy paper made its way to the New York DailyNews. Aides claimed the 140-page document was pilfered from a piece of luggage when a staffer changed planes. The document acknowledged the obvious: a moderate Republican who has supported abortion rights, gay rights, and gun control may be a tough sell to GOP primary voters.

It also cited his stormy divorce from Donna Hanover, one of his former wives, and his ties to scandal-plagued former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik as potential obstacles. (AP)

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