Former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani said on Thursday he’s voting for fellow New Yorker Donald Trump in the Republican primary slated for April 19.
In a report by the New York Post, Guiliani was quoted as saying:
“I support Trump. I’m gonna vote for Trump.”
The 9/11 mayor and former presidential candidate kept his preference close to his chest amidst intense media interest, and one would assume, some lobbying from the candidates.
Guiliani said he expects Trump will get more than 50% of the statewide vote and earn the support of the majority of New York’s 95 delegates.
“It’s a question of how much he gets over 50 percent. If he wins 70 to 80 delegates, Donald has a good shot of securing the 1,237 delegates to secure the nomination before the convention.”
Considering Guiliani’s influence, his support is expected to help Trump gain some traction in the primary while his influence is expected to wane when the general elections commence.
Rudy Guiliani apparently met with Trump’s major opponent Ted Cruz a few months ago, before the Texas senator blasted New York “values” in order to score political points.
This rankled him and he clarified:
“It’s New York City. We’re family. I can make fun of New York. But you can’t!”
“I know he was attacking liberal Democratic values … I know. I fought to change those policies in areas like welfare reform and policing, as did Mike Bloomberg. … There was a better way to say it.”
Guiliani also said he was concerned about the in-fighting in the GOP primary and urged both frontrunners – Cruz and Trump to stop fighting over their spouses.
To round it all off, he said he doesn’t agree with all of Trump’s positions but he supports his focus on the economy, immigration and security.
A majority of New York’s county GOP leaders are rallying around Trump’s candidacy, and the 9/11 mayor’s support may just be the tonic Trump needs to reenergize his ailing campaign.
(Photo by Mike McGregor/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)
