Giuliani steps cautiously toward presidential race

NEW YORK — Rudolph W. Giuliani, who developed a national reputation for decisive and reassuring leadership after 9/11, now faces the odd challenge of having to reassure some supporters that he can be decisive about a very different issue: running for president.

Even as his fellow Republican John McCain and fellow New Yorker Hillary Rodham Clinton have all but formally declared their candidacies, Giuliani has proceeded more cautiously.

Since last month, the former New York mayor has formed an exploratory committee, more aggressively recruited a campaign staff and moved to divest himself of one of his companies. And this weekend he is visiting New Hampshire, home to the first primary, for the second time in three months. But he has studiously avoided making a public commitment to run.

Asked Jan. 12 in Delaware about his political plans, he offered an ambiguous reply: "I think the biggest question you have to ask is, 'Can you really lead the country?' If I believe that I can do it, then I will, and if I don't, then I'll support somebody else."

Despite the delay, his aides argue that the accelerated pace of early primaries next year actually benefits a well-established figure like Giuliani — much, they say, as his national stature will enable him to close whatever gaps now exist in fund-raising and organization.

Nonetheless, doubts have been raised about the proverbial fire in his belly. Some New Yorkers in particular recall his decision to quit the Senate race against Clinton in 2000 after running for months and raising millions of dollars but never formally declaring his candidacy.

Giuliani, already hobbled then by a messy separation from his wife, withdrew after finding that he had prostate cancer.

Giuliani's aides maintain that he is being held to a standard different from that of other prospective candidates who have not formally declared.

Giuliani, who will address the Republican State Convention in New Hampshire this weekend, is to travel to California and South Carolina next month, and supporters in New Jersey are preparing to announce endorsements next week.

"Folks who believe he is not running do so at their own peril," said Michael DuHaime, former political director of the Republican National Committee, who is heading Giuliani's exploratory effort.

Frank Luntz, a Republican consultant not currently working for any presidential campaign, called Giuliani "the only candidate who can set his own timetable, because he is so established in the minds of the voters."