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Giuliani Out, Backs McCain

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By LIZ SIDOTI and DEVLIN BARRETT, The Associated Press

Published: January 31, 2008

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Rudy Giuliani, who sought to make the leap from New York mayor to the White House, bowed out of the Republican presidential contest Wednesday and endorsed front-runner and longtime friend John McCain.

"John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States," Giuliani said. "He's an American hero."

Once the front-runner himself, Giuliani decided to abandon the race after a dismal performance in Tuesday's Florida primary, a contest on which he had bet his political fortune. Instead, McCain, the Arizona senator, won and Giuliani came in a distant third.

Giuliani recalled he had said in an earlier debate that McCain would be his choice for president if he were not running himself. "If I'd endorsed anyone else, you would say I was flip-flopping," he said, mentioning an oft-repeated criticism of McCain's chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

McCain, standing at Giuliani's side, acknowledged his former rival as "my strong right arm and my partner."

"This man is a national hero and I'm honored by his friendship," he said.

The endorsement joined two Republicans who campaigned on similar themes highlighting their national security credentials: McCain as a Vietnam POW, war hero and a Senate voice on defense matters, and Giuliani as a stalwart New York mayor during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Giuliani announced his exit from the race and backing of McCain at the Ronald Reagan Library, site of Wednesday night's debate involving the remaining GOP candidates.

Tuesday's result was a remarkable collapse for Giuliani. Last year, he occupied the top of national polls and seemed destined to turn conventional wisdom on end by running as a moderate Republican who supported abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.

The results seriously decimated Giuliani's unconventional strategy, which relied heavily on Florida to launch him into the coast-to-coast Feb. 5 nominating contests.

Florida proved to be less than hospitable, though. His poll numbers dropped and key endorsements went to McCain.

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