Giuliani supports
Lingle at fund-raiserThe former New York mayor also
praises the president's leadership
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani praised Gov. Linda Lingle and President Bush before 560 people who paid $1,000 each to attend a fund-raising dinner last night for Lingle's re-election campaign.
"Gov. Lingle is one of my heroes," Giuliani said during a press conference before the dinner at the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort. "She's really done a terrific job of turning the state around. ... I am really very proud of what she's accomplished."
Miriam Hellreich, spokeswoman for the Lingle re-election campaign, told the Star-Bulletin earlier this month that the former mayor was able to speak at yesterday's engagement because he was already scheduled to be in the islands this week for a paid speech with a undisclosed business group on Kauai.
Giuliani, who has been praised for his leadership role in New York after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, is a staunch supporter of President Bush.
"My real focus is to see that the president is re-elected," Giuliani said. "He got our country through it (Sept. 11) stronger, more unified and better than it was before."
Giuliani also said that one year after America attacked Iraq, progress and gains are being made in the country.
"I think we have a wonderful opportunity in Iraq to create a decent government and democracy," he said. "We're making real progress in the war against terrorism."
Giuliani waived his speaking fees for last night's event, but can command as much as $100,000 for an appearance, according to reports. He is expected to stay in the islands for four more days.
During the press conference, Giuliani defended President Bush's use of Sept. 11 imagery in his re-election advertisements.
"I think it'd be impossible (for Bush) to run for re-election and not" use the images, Giuliani said.
The former mayor added that he toured the USS Arizona Memorial yesterday afternoon, and said the site evoked "a great number of feelings of being at Ground Zero."