Giuliani gets over ego and praises Romney
May 27th, 2012
10:37 AM ET
11 years ago

Giuliani gets over ego and praises Romney

Washington (CNN) – Rudy Giuliani, now a Mitt Romney supporter, said Sunday that he partially blames his ego for previous criticism of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

"Well, I mean, there's a certain amount of personal ego in that. At that point I was probably comparing his record to my record," Giuliani said on CNN’s "State of the Union." "That’s all part of campaigning."

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While running for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, Giuliani targeted his then-rival over his record on spending, taxes and health care during his tenure as Massachusetts governor.

Although Giuliani said Romney is now the “perfect choice” given the U.S. economy, he also explained his previous jabs.

"Maybe it was circumstances or whatever, but I had massive reductions in unemployment. He had a reduction in unemployment of about 8, 10 - I think it was 15%. I had a reduction of unemployment of 50%. He had a growth of jobs of about 40,000. We had a growth of jobs of about 500,000," Giuliani said of his time as mayor of New York City. "So I was comparing what I thought was my far superior record to his otherwise decent record, but numbers weren't as great."

Giuliani publicly endorsed Romney in April after some less than flattering remarks directed at the frontrunner earlier in the primary cycle, in particular over his perceived failure at personally connecting with voters.

Although that was Romney’s “problem during the primary,” Giuliani said he’s “doing a much better job at it.”

"Gov. Romney, now that people see who he is, I think they're going to find a very intelligent, very engaged, very committed man who's the perfect choice for a period of time in which we have to revive the economy," Giuliani told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. "Couldn't think of better credentials to deal with the economy, so maybe the personal part won't become as important."

Ultimately, the outcome of the November election will depend on the economy, Giuliani said.

“If the economy doesn’t improve between now and September or October, I don’t think President Obama will be re-elected,” Giuliani said. “If he gets an economy that starts improving, then it could be anybody’s ball game.”

Also see:

Biden touts Obama's foreign policy in West Point address

Romney campaign sticks with Trump, despite birther comments

Candidates frame labor fight in Wisconsin debate

Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.


Filed under: 2012 • Mitt Romney • Rudy Giuliani • TV-State of the Union
soundoff (21 Responses)
  1. Gurgyl

    .......because he is for "BAI.N CAPITAL". Nonsense idiot. He is either drunk or in coma. GOP is a cult, KKK.
    Folks, talk less, in groups, go and vote for direct democratic ticket, and Obama 2012.

    May 27, 2012 10:45 am at 10:45 am |
  2. mikle

    Obama is the worst president ever. He broke ever promises he made.

    May 27, 2012 10:56 am at 10:56 am |
  3. thomas

    Giuliani gets over ego ?

    Change .

    May 27, 2012 10:57 am at 10:57 am |
  4. Marie MD

    You both have ego for doing nothing and lying through your teeth Mr. "we were never attacked under the bush administration".
    Your "record" is walking NYC streets after 9/11. What is it with these guys who are divorced and remarried numerous times (newterman, trumper, this gigolo) and their obsession, after saying terrible things about him, with the bishop?
    Is it that the bishop can have as many wives as he wants (if he moves back to Mexicos) vs they had to get married and divorced (serial cheaters all) three of four times? Jealous much about the flip flopper?

    May 27, 2012 11:04 am at 11:04 am |
  5. King

    Wealth creation is sucking from the majority at the least price imaginable, he praise mitten for sending manufacturing. Jobs to China while pushing service jobs to buy from our manufacturing jobs in China. What kind of voodoo economics is that? He needs to know this is not the 70s and 80s the internet and trade regulations have changed that, there is no such thing as trickle down economics anymore. We have to compete with China and their slaveblabor for American jobs, especially when mitten comes in and push free trade to his rich friends with other countries, how the hell can middle class Americans compete with China 10 dollars hour middle class wages. Companies will be fools not to ship their companies to China, just like they did in the bush years. Obama need to push for infrastructure modernization by taxing the rich before they move all their money to modernize china

    May 27, 2012 11:12 am at 11:12 am |
  6. Anonymous

    It's about time CNN gets over it's own ego and finally puts these old fools to rest once and for all.

    May 27, 2012 11:16 am at 11:16 am |
  7. They ought to change from the elephant to the hippo...

    Rudy blames his ego? Oh, I'm sure that Captain Obvious is thrilled to hear that. But Rudy being over his ego? Well... I'm also sure that General Doubtful is... well...

    May 27, 2012 11:26 am at 11:26 am |
  8. Dutra

    "You voted for Obama to prove you weren't a racist. Now who are you going to vote for to prove you aren't an idiot?" ~ Anonymous blogger

    "Apparently, I'm supposed to be angrier about how Mitt Romney got his money than I am about how Obama got mine" ~ Paraphrased from some internet blogger.

    "If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." ~ Samuel Adams, 1776

    “Surely something must be terribly wrong with a man who seems to be far more concerned with a Jew building a house in Israel than with Muslims building a nuclear bomb in Iran." ~ Columnist Burt Prelutsky

    "Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama." ~ Thomas Sowell

    "One of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the great struggle for independence." ~ American historian Charles A. Beard (1874-1948)

    May 27, 2012 11:37 am at 11:37 am |
  9. NATHAN WIMBERLY

    It's like pulling teeth to get the Anybody but Mitt McCain GOBP to endorse Mitt McCain. August comes quickly.

    May 27, 2012 11:52 am at 11:52 am |
  10. gay guy

    I do like Barack Obama, he is ruining America, and he stinks (seriously) as president

    May 27, 2012 12:00 pm at 12:00 pm |
  11. Enough promises already!

    Obama = Broken promises and lier! Obama lies, Obama lies!

    May 27, 2012 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |
  12. EdSantaFe

    Who care what Giuliani has to say about anything?

    May 28, 2012 08:00 am at 8:00 am |
  13. Pat in IL

    I agree with EdSantaFe. Giuliani has never been someone who anybody listens to. He would just like to be.

    May 28, 2012 08:15 am at 8:15 am |
  14. Joe citizen abroad

    Always fascinating to watch otherwise-astute politicians twist themselves into humility pretzels, sucking up to the inevitable nominee, hoping for a spot in the new administration.

    May 28, 2012 08:26 am at 8:26 am |
  15. Joyce

    Come on Guliani, the noun, the verb and 9/11 are your hallmarks. Nonsense is your middle name. You talk so much rubbish in praise of others that it demeans your little worth . Time to take a back seat and stop sucking up the oxygen that others could use for their benefit.

    May 28, 2012 08:27 am at 8:27 am |
  16. Sandy Feet

    Rudy....... ego.......noooooo! I just don't see it!...................He is pretty full of himself.

    May 28, 2012 08:36 am at 8:36 am |
  17. v_mag

    The GOBP elite fall into line, just as ordered, and they expect you to do the same. Support the guy who is a clone of George W. Bush, no matter how destructive that is.

    Romney = Bush = disaster.

    May 28, 2012 09:10 am at 9:10 am |
  18. dave oldread

    born in ma. and live in new york, and still would not vote for either of these back tracking phoneys, to let the gop take back control would be the final nail in this great country,they can remember 911 everytime the elections run, but can forget what bush did to this country in 4 years.

    May 28, 2012 09:13 am at 9:13 am |
  19. Curt

    Is there something in New York water? I can't figure out who has the biggest ego, Trump or Giuliani.

    May 28, 2012 09:38 am at 9:38 am |
  20. Sheri Lee

    @ Mikle wow!!! And I bet Obama is the first politician to ever break his promise. Of course Mitt being a GOP a member of GODS party will keep his.

    May 28, 2012 09:50 am at 9:50 am |
  21. enuff

    Doesn't sound like he left his ego at the door to me if he is still giving us his "superior record" over Romney. He may be giving Obama some more weaponry hoping it will be used to get rid of Romney once and for all.

    May 28, 2012 10:20 am at 10:20 am |