Giuliani Heads Upstate for Campaign Swing Through Syracuse
ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Rudy Giuliani has been catching flack over a shooting involving the NYPD, but recent polls show the mayor with a slight lead over Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for the U.S. Senate. CNN's Frank Buckley caught up with Giuliani on the campaign trail.</s>FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN ANCHOR: New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani marched his campaign into upstate New York...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator, you've got my vote.</s>BUCKLEY: ... where he was greeted enthusiastically in the Republican stronghold city of Syracuse.</s>MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK CITY: I have a real connection to this place. This is a real, authentic candidacy for the Senate, not something, you know, strictly by someone who moved in a couple of days ago virtually and is kind of like reading what political analysts tell her to say.</s>BUCKLEY: Giuliani referring to his opponent for the Senate seat, first lady Hillary Clinton, who has campaigned frequently in this region, making at least 14 trips and spending at least 26 days in central and upstate New York since last summer, despite conventional wisdom that says that voters in this region favor Republicans, something that wasn't lost on several upstate leaders, including this congressman, who urged that Giuliani campaign, to begin spending more time upstate.</s>REP. JAMES WALSH (R), NEW YORK: I told him people want to know you. They want to get a feel for you personally. People are, you know, they're very receptive, but they need to get -- put the name with the face and hear what he has to say.</s>GIULIANI: I believe in lowering taxes. And if I were a United States senator, I would work very, very hard to lower your taxes.</s>BUCKLEY: While Giuliani has also visited the area a few times over the past several months, this is his first extensive campaign swing through upstate New York.</s>GIULIANI: I mean, I can't think of an administration that's been more difficult on northern New York than this administration.</s>BUCKLEY: Giuliani using the occasion to rip his opponent's husband, President Clinton, blaming him for high heating oil and gas prices. Giuliani saying he was better suited to fight for New York in Washington than the first lady.</s>GIULIANI: I have the freedom and the independence to speak up against policies of the president's that hurt New Yorkers the way this policy has hurt. And whether that's different from than opponent o5r not, I mean, that's up to her to talk about.</s>BUCKLEY (on camera): While Giuliani aides concede that Mrs. Clinton has campaigned upstate more than Giuliani has, they quickly point out that their man has been busy being mayor of New York City. And it's his record as mayor, they believe, that will ultimately appeal to voters throughout the state. Frank Buckley, CNN, Syracuse, New York.