The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

PAC IT IN br> New York Republicans are pressuring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to create a political action committee to help his party compete in upcoming elections. "He'd be able to raise a couple million in no time," says a New York Republican source. "And it would help him if he decided to run for higher office in the next couple of years." /p>

The pressure on Giuliani is partly the result of Sen. Hillary Clinton's ongoing success in raising money for her national and New York PACs, which have more than $2 million and half million in the bank, respectively.

Given Guiliani's name recognition and through-the-roof approval numbers, says the New York source, "a Rudy PAC could bury her and the Democrats no problem. He could even farm out some of that cash to friendly Democrats. He'd be untouchable."

In approaching him, Republican consultants showed Giuliani data that indicated he could pull in more than $2 million in the next six months from a broad base of donors, making him a political kingmaker for eager state and local candidates, as well as congressional Republicans.

Giuliani said he was interested, but not ready to make that kind of commitment to the party. "We'll bring him around," says the source. "He can't stay out of politics forever. It's in his bones."

topics:
Hillary Clinton