Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who ran for President in 2008 and dipped a toe in the waters of the 2012 contest, professed himself “shocked” by Newt Gingrich’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s private-sector career during a “Fox and Friends” appearance this morning.
Giuliani asked, “What the hell are you doing, Newt? I expect this from Saul Alinsky! This is what Saul Alinsky taught Barack Obama, and what you’re saying is part of the reason we’re in so much trouble right now.”
Giuliani broadened his criticism to include the attacks on Bain Capital launched by both Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who he described as “a very close friend of mine.” “I’m shocked at what they’re doing,” said Giuliani. “It’s ignorant and dumb. It’s building something we should be fighting in America, ignorance of the economic system, playing on the dumbest, most ridiculous ideas about how you grow jobs.” He characterized the attacks on Romney’s private sector career as “unfair and bad for the Republican Party.”
Giuliani said he has a "strong inclination for Newt." He has previously spoken highly of Gingrich as a candidate. In a December 12 appearance on CNN, he spoke of Gingrich’s comeback in the polls and praised his “common touch,” saying “he’s able to talk to people… he comes from a poor family and understands poverty from that point of view. He doesn’t come from the American elite, so it’s going to be hard to paint him that way.”
Giuliani went on to suggest that these and other virtues could make Gingrich “the stronger candidate” in the general election, citing his appeal to the Reagan Democrats. He thought Romney’s superior organization and campaign finances would be huge advantages during a long primary, however.
