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Jolly Giuliani Tones Down Religion In Holiday Spot

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Dec 19, 2007 12:06 pm US/Eastern

Jolly Giuliani Tones Down Religion In Holiday Spot

Lighthearted Mayor Appears With Santa, Says His Holiday Wish Is For All Candidates To Get Along

NEW YORK (CBS) ― A jovial Rudy Giuliani released a new television ad Wednesday, mixing political motive with holiday cheer and a lighthearted quip poking at the other presidential candidates.

"There are many things I wish for this holiday season. I wish for peace with strength. Secure borders. A government that spends less than it takes in. Lower taxes for our businesses and families. And I really hope that all of the presidential candidates can just get along," Giuliani says in the spot, which hits the airwaves in New Hampshire on Thursday.

The camera then pans to a chuckling Santa Claus, who jokes: "I was with you right up until that last one. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho."

Giuliani agrees, telling Santa: "Can't have everything!" He then wishes viewers a merry Christmas and happy holidays.

The new ad comes a day after fellow Republican candidate Mike Huckabee defended his own Christmas ad that some felt crossed the line in mixing religion and politics.

In that ad, a serious Huckabee, sitting in front of a bookshelf that creates a cross-like image in the background, asks voters:

"Are you about worn out by all the television commercials you've been seeing, mostly about politics? Well, I don't blame you. At this time of year sometimes it's nice to pull aside from all of that and just remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ and being with our family and friends."

Huckabee is courting evangelical voters and other religious conservatives in his bid to win the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3. In Texas for a fundraiser, he said the ad was a harmless holiday greeting even though it excludes other religions.

"If we are so politically correct in this country that a person can't say enough of the nonsense with the political attack ads could we pause for a few days and say Merry Christmas to each other then we're really, really in trouble as a country," Huckabee said.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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