Giuliani taps big bucks in Minnesota stop
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Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani made a brief campaign stop Thursday in Minneapolis to raise money and meet with voters.
Giuliani is leading in both the polls and the money hunt among Republican candidates in Minnesota. The former New York mayor raised more than $364,000 from Minnesota supporters through September, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks and analyzes campaign contributions.
He added to that total this visit with a private fundraiser Thursday at the Minneapolis Club. Giuliani then crossed the street to greet supporters at a downtown diner. The presidential hopeful made a similar visit six weeks ago and expects to make more in the months ahead.
"Less than a year from now, a Republican nominee will emerge from here, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota," Giuliani said. "I hope it's me. I'm going to work real hard to make sure that it is. Then I'm going to work real hard to see if we can put Minnesota back in the Republican column where I think it belongs."
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While Giuliani has raised the most in Minnesota among the Republican candidates, two Democrats have outpaced him in Minnesota. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York had raised $411,000 in the state through September, and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois raised $374,000.
A recent poll by the Star Tribune showed Giuliani leading among Republicans with 27 percent support. Sen. John McCain was second with 22 percent.
The Minnesota DFL Party issued a statement after Giuliani's visit, accusing the Republican candidate of exaggerating his own experience on terrorism and foreign policy.
"Minnesotans are ready for change, to end the war in Iraq and to reestablish our standing throughout the world. But Giuliani and the other Republican candidates just want more of the same," said DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez.
