Giuliani woos New Hampshire GOP

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- In a highly anticipated debut speech on the New Hampshire presidential trail, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani yesterday stressed his experience as a leader confronting terrorism and did not mention any of his liberal social positions in remarks to the state GOP convention.

"I think leadership is about vision and performance -- who has the vision and who can perform," said Giuliani. "You should measure by the things I have done."

The comment was the closest the former mayor came to acknowledging his perceived vulnerability as a social liberal running in a party with a Southern and rural base. And it was a not-so-veiled reminder of his toughness and unflappability in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center.

Giuliani came into the event as the leading GOP presidential candidate for 2008 in some national polls, attesting to his strong grass - roots support. Nonetheless, many party leaders are skeptical of his level of organization and commitment -- along with his support for abortion rights, gay rights, and gun control.

The speech, before about 500 of New Hampshire's most active and influential Republicans, was considered an important test of Giuliani's viability. The New Hampshire GOP has passed resolutions opposing gay marriage, abortion rights, and gun control, and it was unclear whether party leaders would be able to look beyond those points of disagreement with Giuliani.

But the party activists -- visibly chastened by their worst Election Day since 1874, in which Republicans lost all major offices on the ballot along with both chambers of the Legislature -- seemed receptive to Giuliani's call for aggressive oversight of homeland security and the Iraq war, though the response was more respectful than committed.

"We are a nation at war and our next president is not going to be elected on the basis of specific positions like abortion," said state Senator Bob Clegg , a Republican from Hudson.

Mayor Frank Guinta of Manchester agreed that terrorism will loom larger than social issues.

"I don't think right now the country is focused with those issues," said Guinta, referring to Giuliani's social views. "His positions don't automatically disqualify him."

After addressing the convention, Giuliani ate lunch with his wife, Judith, at Blake's Diner on Manchester's West Side, where he displayed his seasoned campaign skills. While eating a chicken fajita pita with a Diet Coke, he paused for pictures with fellow diners. He even took a picture of himself with a 6-year-old using the camera on his cell phone.

Asked if a big - city mayor can relate to small-town New Hampshire, Giuliani told reporters he loved everything about it .

In recent New Hampshire polls, Giuliani has been in a three-way race with Senator John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Like Romney and McCain, Giuliani has set up exploratory committees to raise and spend money in early primary voting states, including New Hampshire.

Giuliani said he was "excited and humbled" to explore a run, but has no timetable for a final decision. He said he would go by gut feeling more than traditional benchmarks like fund-raising ability or early support.

In recent weeks, the former mayor has been hiring staff to show his seriousness about a presidential run. In New Hampshire, Giuliani hired the son of the recent state Republican Party chairman, Jeff Semprini , to be a regional field organizer and a former staffer for US Senator Judd Gregg to serve as his statewide field organizer. Longtime Republican activists David Tille and Chris Wood will serve as Giuliani's New Hampshire political director and coalitions director, respectively.

Other potential Republican candidates were trying to introduce themselves to this audience. Former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore shook hands while Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado held a reception down the street. McCain's campaign sent Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah to attend two receptions connected to the convention.