Giuliani helps boost Ulster GOP at dinner

KINGSTON — Rudy Giuliani told Republicans in Ulster County that he knows the formula for prosperity in the United States: cut spending, ignore lobbyists and promote a strong national defense.

But while Giuliani talked authoritatively on those topics, locals wondered about something else. Hey, Mr. Giuliani, are you going to run for governor? Or maybe senator?

Those questions loomed over the Ulster County Republican Committee's annual dinner Thursday night, where Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, starred as the keynote speaker. Roughly 500 Ulster Republicans packed the banquet hall at Hillside Manor in Kingston to hear, meet and snap photos with the man who cut crime and led New York City through the aftermath of Sept. 11.

Giuliani was happy to talk about all that, but he turned away questions about his reported aspirations to run in 2010 for governor of New York or the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Kirsten Gillibrand.

“I'll turn my attention to that after the elections (this year) are over and figure it out,” Giuliani said during a brief meeting with press from around the state. “There's still plenty of time.”

Still, local Republicans urged Giuliani to run for higher office. Their encouragement started right from the opening prayer.

“Where the next stop is – Albany or Washington – Rudy, we're ready!” Kingston Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht said during his benediction.

Ulster County GOP Chairman Mario Catalano said Giuliani agreed to be the keynote speaker after “seven months of begging.”

“I told him I'm the new chairman, trying to rebuild my party, and it would be good for him to come to the Hudson Valley because it's a microcosm of New York state,” Catalano said.

And while Giuliani spent most of his time preaching fiscal conservativism and admonishing New York Gov. David Paterson and President Barack Obama for spending too much, the former mayor took some time to boost local candidates.

He urged Republicans to elect incumbent County Clerk Nina Postupack and county judge candidate Donald Williams. He said their success in spite of a growing voter enrollment that favors Democrats in Ulster will depend on stressing the timeless themes of Republicanism.

“Emphasize that we're a party that believes in fiscal discipline and the rights of people,” he said.