First off, Hizzoner has announced two key Missouri endorsements, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Missouri House Majority Leader Steven Tilley:
The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee…announced Missouri Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has endorsed Mayor Giuliani for President. Emerson will serve as Chair of Giuliani’s Missouri campaign.
Emerson, serving her sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, will help grow the Mayor’s team in Missouri . She was the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress.
“I’m proud to support Mayor Giuliani for President because he offers the best vision for our nation,” said Congresswoman Emerson. “His commitments to protecting American families and advocating fiscally conservative polices are important to Missourians, and I know Rudy is the only candidate who can beat the Democrats next fall.”
“Congresswoman Emerson is another great addition to our team,” said Michael DuHaime, Giuliani’s National Campaign Manager. “She is a leader for Missouri families, supporting fiscal responsibility and a strong national defense. Jo Ann will be a great advocate for the Mayor in Missouri .”
Congresswoman Emerson’s endorsement is the first of several upcoming additions to the Mayor’s Missouri team.
Congresswoman Emerson represents the 28 counties of Southern Missouri ‘s agriculturally diverse Eighth District. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, sitting on the Agriculture, Interior, and Energy and Water Development Subcommittees.
Currently, Congresswoman Emerson serves as Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and vice-chair of the Assembly’s subcommittee on Democratic Governance. She is also a co-chair of the Board of Directors for the Congressional Hunger Center and an Honorary and Life Trustee of Westminster College. A former Girl Scout, she is also a leading supporter of the organization in Congress. In February of 2005, she chaired the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington .
Congresswoman Emerson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio Wesleyan University . Previously, she has worked as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the American Insurance Association, Director of State Relations and Grassroots Programs for the small-business oriented National Restaurant Association, and Deputy Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Congresswoman Emerson is married to Ron Gladney and is the proud mother of two daughters, five stepdaughters and one stepson, and grandmother of three grandchildren.
[Rep. Steven Tilley] will serve as the campaign’s Missouri State Co-Chair.
“Mayor Giuliani has a strong record of fiscal discipline and lowering taxes, he is tough on crime and has shown the kind of strong leadership required to be the nation’s top executive,” said Tilley. “I am proud to be part of the Giuliani campaign in Missouri . I believe he is the best choice for Republicans to capture the White House in 2008.”
“We’re glad Steve has joined our Missouri team,” said Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, Giuliani’s Missouri State Chair. “His endorsement demonstrates the Mayor’s growing strength in the state. Steve will be a great supporter of Rudy’s message of keeping America strong and safe and governing with fiscally conservative principles.”
Representative Tilley was elected to serve the Missouri House as the Majority Floor Leader this past September. He was first elected in 2004, representing the 106th District, which includes parts of Perry, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois Counties.
Representative Tilley is also a member of Missouri Right to Life, National Rifle Association, Perryville Optimist Club, Missouri Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Representative Tilley is also a CHAMPS mentor and attends the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Representative Tilley lives in Perryville with his wife and their two daughters.
Mayor Giuliani also gained the endorsement of another Massachusetts Republican, former State Treasurer Joe Malone:
…Joe Malone, the former Massachusetts State Treasurer, has endorsed Mayor Giuliani for President. Malone has long been active in Bay State Republican politics, having served two terms as State Treasurer during the 1990s.
“Rudy has a record of results he can point to when it comes to cutting taxes and controlling spending. He is without question the fiscal conservative in the race,” said Malone. “I am endorsing Rudy because he will keep his eye on the bottom line when he becomes President – just as he did when he was Mayor.”
“Joe Malone’s endorsement of the Mayor reflects continued strong momentum for Rudy’s campaign, in New England and across the country. Seeing another former statewide Massachusetts elected official back Mayor Giuliani speaks volumes about the strength of his candidacy. It is an honor to have Joe’s support,” said Michael DuHaime, Giuliani’s National Campaign Manager.
Malone joins former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci and three of Massachusetts’ five Republican State Senators in supporting Mayor Giuliani.
Malone was elected State Treasurer in 1990. Four years later, he was re-elected with 70% of the vote.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
anyone catch that on foxnews where rudy was asked to respond to mccain’s charge that mccain was the only person to oppose the iraq strategy and called for the surge/counter insurgency? rudy basically said, i knew it was failing but i didn’t speak out. bleh.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:17 pm
[...] post by Kavon W. Nikrad and software by Elliott [...]
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:19 pm
“I’ve run the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy history, and I mean not run but led, controlled tens of millions of dollars of assets, trained young brave americans,” McCain said. “I’ll defend my leadership of thousands of men and women with the management of anyone else, and I’ll say that it helps that I have a background in military and national security issues. I need no on the job training,” he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303813,00.html
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:20 pm
sorry! pretend post 3 does not exist.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Speaking of endorsements, looks like Mitt just lost one — Don Wilton:
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26678
Don Wilton was the guy that Romney’s campaign rolled out during the Washington Briefing:
http://race42008.com/2007/10/22/the-ability-to-execute/
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
A Major Romney Endorser’s Non-Retraction Retratction.
23 Oct 2007 06:49 pm
It turns out that Don Wilton, the former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention may not have endorsed Mitt Romney after all.
Pastor Wilton tells Baptist News that he never intended to endorse Romney nationally — only “in my capacity as an individual citizen.”
OK — but he admits he gave his “consent to the local campaign to use my affirmation of the governor’s stance on family values.”
Said Wilton: “It was my personal error to agree to support Romney’s campaign. Until this incident I had never endorsed any person running for any elected office, Democrat or Republican.”
So what he’s saying, basically, is that he was fine being used as a validator of Romney’s record, but he never meant to endorse Romney’s candidacy and never realized that his words would be construed as a national endorsement.
The Romney campaign may get a lot of guff for this, but it doesn’t seem to be warranted.
Pastor Don either changed his mind or really seems to be confused about politics.
Kevin Madden, Romney’s spokesman, told me:
“He’s a great leader in the community. We respect any decision he makes with regard to his involvement with the campaign.”
Here’s Wilton’s full statement:
“While I did give my consent to the local campaign to use my affirmation of the Governor’s stance on family values in my capacity as an individual citizen, I made the mistake of not realizing the extent to which it would be used on a national basis. It was my personal error to agree to support Romney’s campaign. Until this incident I had never endorsed any person running for any elected office, Democrat or Republican. While I have had the privilege of meeting with a number of fine candidates over the years I continue to believe my role and responsibility is to preach and teach the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am committed to pray for our elected leaders as well as for the wisdom of the American people as they are compelled to make choices based upon their deep and abiding convictions. The future of this great nation is at stake and the morality of her people in relationship to the God of our founding fathers is critical to our future. While I will vote my constitutional right as an American citizen, and while I implore all eligible Americans to do the same, I will continue to use my personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as the only standard by which I determine who to vote for in any election.”
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
As a Missourian, let me observe that while these are good pick-ups for team Rudy, they’re not in the same league as Governor Matt Blunt, or former Senator Jim Talent, both of whom have endorsed Romney. If Rudy gets Bond, I’ll be impressed.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Iowa, we need a link to be able to post it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Tommy…
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I think there are a lot of folks out there that aren’t used to the “new” news cycle that we now have due to the Internet.
Remember how Dan Rather and his phoney National Guard story were caught off guard?
I was amazed at the lightening speed with which the blogosphere exposed that story.
It’s a new world now. The Walter Cronkites of America no longer decide policy with their singular opinion of events.
I’m glad it’s this way — it’s the best thing that’s happened to America in a long time.
And you know, the liberals hate it!
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Rudy is a good guy, its a shame I can’t support him. If he wants to win, and if he wants to prevent a major third party run, he needs to do two three things:
1) Announce that he will defer judicial appointments to a selected group of pro-life Republican Senators and Reps.
2) Announce that he will veto any abortion-related bill that does not get the support of the majority of Republicans, and sign any bill that does.
3) Announce that he will select a pro-life, younger VP who the GOP can run in 2016.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Let me add one:
4) Announce that he will oppose taxpayer funded abortions. Thanks to Fred for bringing this up!
October 24th, 2007 at 6:47 am
ACTBLOG and WISEGUY–Go ahead and elect Hillary and the blood of many unborn will be on your hands. I”m beginning to think you don’t actually care about the unborn.