Giuliani lends support to McCain

Rudy Giuliani, whose unorthodox campaign flamed out in Florida, pulled the plug on his presidential bid this afternoon and handed his support to John McCain.

At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., where the remaining Republican contenders will debate tonight, Giuliani said if he had not run, the one person he would have supported would have been McCain.

The next president needs to be trusted at times of crisis and have a clear vision for the country. "Obviously I thought I was that person," Giuliani said. "The voters made a different choice."

"Deciding to endorse in my particular case was not difficult," he said, McCain at his side. "John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next president of the United States. He is an American hero, and the country could use heroes in the White House."

"He's shown character throughout his life, and in this very campaign, watching where he was and where he came from, made me admire him even more," Giuliani said. "He came from way behind to go way ahead. And once again displayed his tenacity, his courage, his ability to focus, his ability to get things done."

"I am deeply honored," McCain said.

Giuliani's backing is expected to help McCain in raising campaign cash and in building support in the Northeast states that vote on Super Tuesday, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Giuliani and McCain have been close for years. On the other hand, Giuliani and Mitt Romney, the other major Republican left in the race, sparred repeatedly, especially during debates on the issue of illegal immigration.

The former New York mayor led in national polls last year, thanks partly to wide name recognition as "America's mayor" after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on his city.

But Giuliani adopted a strategy that confounded the political establishment. He skipped the traditional early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, allowing his rivals to gain momentum.

He banked on Florida, but the more time he spent there, the more his support cratered. Tuesday, he ended up in third, with a paltry 15 percent of the vote.