Giuliani says candidacy imminent

WASHINGTON — Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who became a national hero for his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, suggested Monday that a formal presidential announcement was a matter of when, not if.

"Today we just took another step toward running for president," the Republican said, hours after filing a so-called "statement of candidacy" with the Federal Election Commission, which moved him closer to a full-fledged campaign.

"It's a big step, an important one. Quite honestly, we're probably ahead of schedule," Giuliani told reporters in Long Island while campaigning with a state Senate candidate. "We still have to think about a formal announcement and how to do it, but this is a pretty strong step."

Later, in an interview on Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," Giuliani said: "I'm in this to win."

Unlike chief GOP rivals Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney, Giuliani had thus far been ambiguous about whether he would pursue the Republican nomination, even though he has taken the initial steps.

In recent weeks, Giuliani's cautious and noncommittal attitude has caused some critics to question whether he would abandon his bid even before formally entering the race, as he did in 2000 when he was considering a Senate campaign against Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Fighting back lately, Giuliani started to sound and act like a strong contender, traveling to the early primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, and arguing that his vision for the future and performance in the past would make him a formidable GOP nominee.

Behind the scenes, he has been busy supplementing his cadre of New York loyalists with Washington-savvy political operatives, establishing a fund-raising network and setting up a campaign headquarters — signs of a campaign moving forward.

Publicly, however, he had stopped short of committing to a run, insisting he has to decide whether he can make a "unique contribution" to help strengthen the country — his barometer for whether to run.

"There's a real good chance," Giuliani said Saturday in South Carolina, another coy answer to what has been a constant question on the campaign trail.

However slight, the shift in campaign organization is an indication Giuliani likes the response he's received as he gauges support while traveling the country.