Full Name: Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani III

Rudy's Solutions America Website: http://www.solutionsamerica.com/

Current Office: None

Born: Brooklyn, New York on May 28, 1944

Education: Manhattan College (1965) and New York University Law School (1968)

Religion: Catholic

Family: Married to Judith Nathan.

Significant Career Experience:

Chairman and CEO, Giuliani Partners, 2002 - present
Mayor of New York City, 1994 – 2001
Candidate for Mayor of New York, 1989
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Associate Attorney General, 1981-1983
Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler, 1977-1981
US Deputy Attorney General’s Office, 1975-1977
Office of the US Attorney, 1970-1975
United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, 1968-1970

Author: Leadership, (2002)

Rudy Giuliani enters the republican primaries for president with the highest name recognition and deepest level of support of all the potential candidates. Known for his decisive leadership as Mayor of New York City after the attacks on September 11, Giuliani has spent the past four years championing homeland security and republican causes and candidates.

At the beginning of 2002, Time Magazine named Giuliani its Person of the Year for 2001, commending his cool under fire, capable decision-making, and ability to calm the nerves of a city struck by the worst of tragedies. But while this magazine celebrated the past accomplishments of Rudy Giuliani, it also marked the kickoff of one of the most intense hero-worship relationships between the republican base and a politician in recent years.

In the 2002 and 2004 elections, Giuliani was the republican party’s most prized surrogate, and he allowed himself to be used as such quite liberally. He traveled the country, from the biggest cities to the smallest towns, stumping for incumbents and challengers alike, always drawing positive press and often big bucks. For this, few potential candidates are owed more favors than Giuliani.

In 2008, look for Giuliani to cash in some of these favors in the form of endorsements, money, and support.

With all the current good will around Giuliani right now, it’s easy to forget the political and image problems he can expect. Giuliani is pro-choice, a stance that will not sit well with the social conservatives, whose support he needs to make it through the primaries. Neither will they like the way he handled his second divorce, where he publicly took his girlfriend (and soon-to-be third wife) to church on Sundays before the divorce was even close to being finalized. Neither of these issues can be avoided in the primaries. The question then becomes: can Giuliani keep enough of his mystique intact to survive the impending criticism.

Giuliani already leads nearly every early poll out there. This is largely because of name recognition. Beyond that, very few people think negatively of him on the republican side. His challenge leading into the primary season is to continue to find ways to stay in the public eye and stay relevant to the national debate. While Giuliani may be leading right now, he has possibly the least amount of visibility of all the top contenders for the nomination. Whether he can do this will go a long way to determining whether he’s seen as tomorrow’s president or yesterday’s news.

See also

• Bill Frist
• Condoleezza Rice
• George Allen
• John McCain
• Mitt Romney