Dec 25, 2007 6:13 am US/Eastern
Giuliani On The Defense At Christmas Eve Event
Stands Behind Time Spent Campaigning Despite Questions Of Enthusiasm
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters while visiting Harlem's Hale House Center on Christmas Eve.
CBS
It has been a trying time for former mayor Rudy Giuliani, with a mysterious hospital stay, and a race for the Republican presidential nomination that seems to get tighter every day. But Giuliani followed an annual Christmas Eve tradition on Monday, taking time out to visit Harlem's Hale House Center.
The event was billed as non-political -- an opportunity to give presents and bring smiles to underprivileged children. And while Giuliani read holiday stories to children at the non-profit aimed at helping children and families in need, some were simply trying to get a recanad on his recent pitfalls.
It has not been a happy season for Giuliani. His national poll numbers are falling, and questions have mounted about both his health and the health of his campaign.
He said doctors will soon release a report about the headaches that sent him to a hospital last week in St. Louis, where he reported having flu-like symptoms and an excruciatingly painful headache.
It's one of the more serious scares for Giuliani, who had prostate cancer in 2000.
"I know the results, I'm perfectly healthy. I don't have cancer," he said at Monday's event.
The health setback comes as political experts second-guess his decision to retreat from both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
Some have questioned if he's working hard enough to win, which seemed to strike a nerve with him. "I have tremendous enthusiasm for doing this. If you look at the amount of hours I've put into this, no one has done more," he said.
But he's been hard to find in the states that will vote first. He's banking on a big victory when more than 20 states vote on February 5. S
Some warn he could be old news by then.
"This is a campaign in trouble right now. They've got to find new arguments for candidacy and propel some numbers in early states before February 5," said David Birdsell, a professor at Baruch College.
And many of Giuliani's faithful, New Yorkers themselves have their own ideas. At Manna's Restaurant in Harlem, theories abound about the cause of Giuliani's problems.
"He has to say something else other than 9/11. That's all he talks about," said Philip Bulgar, assistant manager at the restaurant.
On Wednesday, Giuliani plans to leave New York and head back on the campaign trail, where he'll have to fight to protect his lead in the Republican primary. The former mayor says he plans to campaign in Florida, Iowa and New Hampshire this week.
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Rudy Giuliani Then To Now
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