Giuliani takes an important call

By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON -- Was Rudy being a little, well, rude, or was he just overwhelmed with loyalty to his wife?

Midway through an important speech to the National Rifle Association -- one of the country's most powerful lobbies, and one whose members aren't too pleased with the former New York mayor's record on gun control -- Giuliani's cell phone rang.

The former mayor, in the midst of explaining his position on a gun law case, glanced at the phone. It was his third wife, Judith, he said -- then answered it.

"I'm giving a speech to the NRA. Would you like to say hello?'' he asked.

Apparently not. Giuliani merely chuckled, then said, "I love you and I'll give you a call as soon as I'm home. Have a safe trip. Talk to you later, dear. I love you.''

Giuliani's personal life -- he went through a messy public divorce of his second wife, Donna Hanover, and soon afterward married Judith Nathan -- has not sat well with Christian conservatives, who are looking for a candidate they see as solidly pro-marriage and commitment-minded.

The NRA crowd, however, was more interested in gun-talk than relationship chat. They sat quietly as Giuliani finished his call, and chuckled politely as the former mayor commented on the blessings and curses of modern technology.

Technology, one assumes, that would allow Giuliani to put his mobile phone on "vibrate'' when he's asking for votes.