On The Trail: A Subdued Crowd Greets Rudy In New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, NH -- A week before Frank Santos, "The R-Rated Hyptonist" takes the stage in at the Palace Theater in Manchester, New Hampshire, former New York Mayor Rudoph Giuliani devlivered a subdued speech to the state Republican annual meeting.

Giuliani, whose heralded appearance helped draw more than 500 state Republicans to the conclave, touched on his copyrighted issues of reducing crime, reforming welfare and, of course, leading New York through the attacks of September 11th.

The former mayor, accompanied by his wife Judith, suggested again that he will make his decision on whether to run for the White House when he's answered the questions, "Can you take the things you've done and do a better job?"

"Can you do a better job?" is the essential question, he says. If so, Giuliani ought to be jumping in soon.

In his 30 minute speech, Guliani recited a long list of things he did as mayor of New York and applied them successfully to the city in a speech with long stretched without applause or laughter. The New Hampshire crowd, eager for some lift after suffering historic losses at every level in November was stirred only when
Giuliani made odes to freedom, low taxes, and New York's firefighters. His obligatory nod to the state's "Live Free or Die" motto early on was rarely matched again in the laugh-free adress. The Upper East Side Republican made no mention of social issues.

Normally cadging 100k a pop for his leadership speeches around the nation, Giuliani wound up with a page from the inspirational speakers playbook by paying tribute to the power of optimism because "optimists have more fun."

In the scrum from stage to SUV, Giuliani said again that he had no timetable for making a decision on making a run, but that he would be traveling to California, South Carolina and Texas in the next two weeks.

New Hamshire supporters for candidates Tom Tancredo, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Duncan Hunter mingled among the crowd of state party regulars with signs and stickers. Few activists sported "Team Rudy" stickers. Operatives for the campaigns were seeking commitments from crucial locals. A poll state legislators by
former

Giuliani's meeting early in the day with star Republican, Manchester mayor Frank Guinta, was not likely to result in an endorsement. The first-term local leader has been cautioned by his circle of advisers that mayors only court trouble when they get enmeshed in presidential politics, which in the Granite State can become lethally local.

The crowd was capable of traditional political tub-thumping enthusiasm. It roared with approval shortly after Giuliani left when former Congressman Jeb Bradley announced that he will seek to recpature the seat he narrowly lost in November after 2 terms. [KEVIN F. RENNIE]