Giuliani holds first NH town hall

HENNIKER, N.H. – In his first New Hampshire town hall meeting, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani fielded questions on torture laws, abortion, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But there was something Giuliani felt he had to mention and get out of the way.

“Did anyone see what happened in the Yankees-Red Sox series this weekend,” asked Giuliani, the unabashed Yankees fan to the audience in Red Sox Nation.

After various members of the crowd reminded him that the Red Sox swept the three-game series, an audience member immediately asked for Giuliani to sign a baseball, which he did.

Standing on a platform in the middle of the room, Giuliani stressed tax cuts and fiscal conservatism, avoiding his position on the Iraq the war and his pro-choice stance.

There was a testy moment when Giuliani was responding to a question on torture laws and wiretaps.

Marty Capodice, the husband of Democratic radio host Arnie Arnesen, challenged Giuliani on whether or not the Bush Administration was taking away American rights.

“That's hardly no rights,” Giuliani testily replied, stressing that Americans have significantly more rights than citizens of other countries. That answer drew the largest response from the crowd.