Mar 30, 2007 6:40 pm US/Eastern
Kerik Gaffe May Be Part Of Bigger Problem For Rudy
Pundits Not Worried, But Public Getting A Little Wary
by Andrew Kirtzman
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The relationship between Rudy Giuliani and former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is once again under scrutiny.
CBS
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Rudy and Judi became tabloid fodder on March 23 when the New York Post and Daily News reported she once had a secret marriage. Now, New Yorkers are wondering what other skeletons Rudy has in his closet as he moves forward with his presidential campaign.
AP
It was a dizzying Friday of developments for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. Just as he was addressing questions about his personal life, new questions have arisen over his relationship with his disgraced former police commissioner.
Needless to say, the public is getting a full dose of Giuliani's personal problems these days.
"Three wives and his son isn't talking to him?" a New Yorker said shrugging while speaking to CBS 2 on Friday.
Questions like those have now prompted the presidential candidate to go public about his family life. He sat down for a network interview with his wife Judith.
When asked by Barbara Walters how she met the former mayor of New York City, Judith said she wanted to keep that private. She was then asked if it bothered her that Rudy was married at the time.
"It was a rocky road, absolutely," Judy said.
But Rudy only sparked more questions when he said he'd invite Judith into his cabinet meetings. That got mixed reviews from the public.
"She's not an elected official, so I'm not in favor of that," one woman told CBS 2.
But a man CBS 2 spoke with had a different take.
"You need a good woman next to you to help things run," he said.
Giuliani has been pushing his wife into public view recently, with mixed results. Her recent appearance at a fundraiser got mixed reviews.
But Giuliani has other problems.
Friday's New York Times reported Giuliani told a grand jury he may have forgotten that an advisor told him about Bernie Kerik's association with a company that had mob links. Giuliani later named Kerik police commissioner and recommended his nomination as Department of Homeland Security chief.
"If his current problems continue, and more controversial items come out, he will be hurt, but we're not there yet," political consultant George Artz told CBS 2.
Pundits have long predicted that the skeletons in Giuliani's closet would complicate his race for president. The question now is how long they'll continue to haunt him.
Giuliani's office released a statement reading:
"The mayor has said repeatedly it was a mistake to recommend Mr. Kerik for the Department of Homeland Security. He cooperated fully with the grand jury."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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