Depends on how bad it is: Rudy Giuliani says he might have to save state and run for Gov.

Rudy Giuliani slapped New York's GOP leadership for having no bench on Thursday, then hinted that if things get much worse, he may have to run for governor.

"If I thought I could make a real difference in the state, really change things...then I would [run]," he told a Crain's NY Business Breakfast Forum.

He joked that "the only way I could get elected governor is the way I got elected mayor - things have to be so bad," he joked, referring to the chaos and crime he inherited when he took over City Hall in 1993.

So how bad is New York State right now, he was asked.

"New York is in pretty bad shape," he said. "New York still has some essential, inherent strengths. But it does have what appears to be from the outside a dysfunctional government, which is really bad - they can't do things."

Giuliani's comments - made after a speech he focused mostly on criticizing President Obama's spending - were among his most expansive to date on whether he'll run for governor. He has said he'll decide by this fall.

If he does run, he may have to mend fences with state GOP leaders, whom he faulted yesterday for failing to develop new candidates.

"There is no question that if you have to rely on George Pataki and me, you are in deep trouble," the former mayor said, referring to the former governor, who many believe could run for U.S. Senate against Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

"We should be moving forward with dynamic new candidates," he added, "but the party at some point stopped developing."