Politics

Rudy revving to run?: Giuliani adviser tests New Hampshire

Alexis Levinson Political Reporter
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A top adviser to Rudy Giuliani met with New Hampshire Republicans on Wednesday to test the waters for a possible presidential run by the former mayor of New York City.

The Associated Press reported that Giuliani’s advisor, Jake Menges, had one-on-one meetings “with a host of key Republicans in the state, including Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, likely gubernatorial candidate Kevin Smith, Rep. Charlie Bass and activist Stephen Talarico, owner of Manchester Harley-Davidson.”

“[Menges] said to me, ‘Just keep your powder dry for another few weeks,'” Talarico told AP.

Gatsas told The Daily Caller that “it was general conversation in regards to what I thought of the landscape.”

“They were up testing the waters and seeing what was happening. I know that he talked to an awful lot of people,” Gatsas said.

“Certainly I would invite anybody into the water, but I think that this Florida move shortens that window pretty much,” the Manchester Mayor added, pointing to the news that Florida will likely move it’s primary to January 31, which would likely push New Hampshire’s primary into early January, or even December.

Smith told the AP that “They were just gauging my thoughts about whether there’s room for his candidacy. I told them that my sense — based on the calls for [New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie to get in — is there’s still some discontentment among Republicans and there could be a spot for another candidate. That being said, time is certainly winding down.”

The move adds Giuliani to the list of people, including Christie and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who could possibly jump in the race late in the game.

But a source in New Hampshire told The Daily Caller there may not be much to it.

Menges “was in New Hampshire and talking to lots of people, but he was having trouble getting commitments from them,” the source said. “What I hear is that they are initially telling people Rudy is going to run. Then, after they set up one-on-one meetings and phone calls, Rudy is actually significantly less committed then his friends let on. I don’t think he’s running.”

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