(CNN) - Rudy Giuliani hailed former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio Monday as the "one candidate that [Florida Republicans] can trust" to uphold conservative values in Washington.
"This is an easy choice in this race," the former New York City mayor said at a press conference in Miami before a gathering of Rubio supporters. "This is an easy choice for a Republican because he is the one candidate that we can trust to represent Republican principles in Washington and remain a Republican if he goes to Washington."
Rubio will face Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP senatorial primary in late August.
Giuliani's endorsement is among Rubio's most high profile to date, and is being seen as political payback to Crist who refused to endorse the former New York City mayor during his presidential bid two years ago.
Crist instead lent his last-minute support to Arizona Republican John McCain, who ultimately won that state's pivotal presidential primary and effectively ended Giuliani's hopes of becoming the GOP's presidential nominee.
A Mason-Dixon poll late last month showed Rubio leading Crist among Republican voters by 11 points, 48-37 percent. Fifteen percent in that survey remained undecided.
But it was almost as if Giuliani was back on the presidential campaign trail himself Monday, using much of his 10-minute endorsement speech to criticize President Obama's policies - specifically his approach to the war on terrorism.
"Let's have an America that stands up to terrorism, not an America that has ambiguity and confusion," Giuliani said. "Do we want to see people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed tried in New York? Or Miami? Shouldn't he be tried in a military tribunal?"
"The president can't make up his mind," he continued. "Do you understand what kind of lack of leadership that shows to the rest of the world? I tried over 4,000 criminals. The easiest decision I had was where to try them."
From CNN Politics
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And you tried them all in civilian courts, right? Ever have any problem with that? Put the trials on a military base if the security requirements dictate, but if the DOJ feels they have a solid case with the evidence they can use in civilian courts, then its that much stronger a case internationally if that's the way we go. Now that guys with Rudy's simplistic mindset aren't running things, we are actually getting help from Pakistan and other Muslim countries.
Guiliani did so well in Florida the last time out, why wouldn't you want him on your side. Oh, and 9/11.
Ummmm.... Guiliani "9-11! 9-11! 9-11!!!!!!!"
Find something else to run on and somewhere else to run!!!! And the decision where to try criminals was a no-brainer – - ummmm - IN YOUR CITY!!! Stop making it sound like you had other options. You were a MAYOR – - what were you going to do? try them in Des Moines?! \
Have no issue with Rubio – - but, is this has-been hack the best you can do!?!?
Giuliani has no conservative foundation to speak from. This guy who threw his wife to the gutter and moved in with a gay couple and favors dressing in womans clothes?
Does the GOP have no tangible memory at all?
LOL...... what an idiot. "9-11!!!! 9-11!!!!!"
Like this moron knows anything about counter terrorism. If he DID, 9-11 wouldn't have happened, now would it?
Good for Christ though, everybody Rudy endorses goes down in flames.
So I dont understand this, and we have the same thing going on here in Wisconsin. Why is it that in the state elections do you not only get outsiders from other states telling you what to do but also state lobbyists? We have that going on in our govenors election , lobbyists from some business thing in Illinios are pushing their candidate for govenor These people need to let the state residents figure sttuff out I know we dont need help fron Illinois lobbyists, why would floridians need someone from NY telling them who and what to vote for.
I remember when Giuliani's presidential campaign went to Florida to die. Maybe he's there to lay flowers on the grave before the headstone that reads "9/11 is not a platform".
Oh, give us a break. This coming from a person who thought he could win the Presidential nomination by just campaigning in Florida? Has anyone noticed that Giuliani has quit every race he has been in the last few years? He quit running against Hillary Clinton. He quit the Presidential race. He is a quitter plain and simple.
Oh please. I live in Florida and I can tell you that Rubio is a money-grabbing hack who has abused his power in the state legislature and continues to do so with his "slush fund". Rubio is Palin in a suit. Out for fame and fortune under the guise of "fiscally responsible...blah, blah, blah. And Rudy. Well, remember the primaries. He's still trying to hang on to his 9/11 crown. Old news.
NY HOW MANY VOTES DID rUDY GET FOR AL LTHE AIR AND MONEY HE SPENT. YEA, THOUGH SOO... People that listen to this windbag must be really stupid. He has amont as much credibility has Dick Cheney or the muppets. No Offense Jim Hinson fans.
This dweeb keeps riding the 9/11 train as if he did anything to actually prevent it. Then he says that there was no terror attack under the Bush administration. This fool is a credible as Bush, Palin, Cheney, Stalin, Hitler et al.
who cares what Rudy Giuliani says. he was the lap dog of Bush and Cheney and we all know how well that turned out. Giuliani is the biggest hypocrite: terrorists were tried in New York courts while he was mayor. so what is he talking about? more partisan blather. he is a one man wrecking ball in search of a spotlight and microphone.
Floridans wake uo and smell the sewer!
Irrelevant.
Rudy Who ?
You're so smart, Giuliani, how come you got your tail whipped when you ran for president?
Rudy: And this has what to do with 911?
those republicans will take any chance they can get to slam our current president. they are STILL playing thier obstructionist game. when will they stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.
Poor Rudy,does he really think the N.Y. snowbirds, retired in Florida, will vote for the "I want to be the future President of Cuba" numbnut Rubio?
The best response to this idiot that is Giuliani is to ask him if his wife, oh, I meant his most resent exwife and, children would they endorse him as a decent man for government? He is washed up and, finished. It's time for him to move on. He comment shows a lack of honesty, I lived in New York City during his time there. He made a lot of mistakes, and many times showed very poor judgement.
this guy is political sleaze to the max!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rudy is the man. Wishing he was in the Oval office instead of kid Obama.
Marco Rubio will be the next the US Senator from Florida. Mark my words!!!
"Let's have an America that stands up to terrorism, not an America that has ambiguity and confusion," Giuliani said. "Do we want to see people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed tried in New York? Or Miami? Shouldn't he be tried in a military tribunal?"
More of Rudi's lies and selective memory. You also told us that no acts of terrorism took place on Bush's watch. WRONG! 9/11 took place on his watch. You then amended your assertion to "after 9/11." WRONG! The shoe bomber happened AFTER 9/11, and not only was he tried in a civilian court, not one Republican complained that he should not have been.
"Giuliani's endorsement... ...is being seen as political payback to Crist who refused to endorse the former New York City mayor during his presidential bid two years ago."
Pretty much says it all. Giulani, who used to be a moderate, would sell his soul to Hitler to get back at Crist. Be careful what you wish for Rudi, because the right wing extremists of your party have no use for your RINO moderate views, and will dump you in a heartbeat if they ever take over.
Republicans, the Party of No, the Party of Heartless Bastards, and the Party of Bald Faced Liars who violate the 9th Commandment as often as they possibly can, because in their pea brains, gosh they're good and Democrats are evil, so anything goes.
Why do Republicans hate America?
Rudy is a bit simple
This guy is an opportunistic moron. Nothing he says is news worthy.
"he is the one candidate that we can trust to represent Republican principles in Washington"
Yep. In other words, to behave like neanderthal with a waxed back.