The American Spectator

The Spectacle Blog

Giuliani is playing a little damage control after receiving criticism over comments that his wife might play a role in his administration.

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani said Friday his wife will not be a member of his Cabinet or attend most high-level meetings as he sought to clarify his previous statements suggesting she would play a significant role in his administration.

Giuliani, in interview comments released Thursday, had said he'd be open to his wife attending Cabinet meetings on issues in which she's interested. "If she wanted to. If they were relevant to something that she was interested in. I mean that would be something that I'd be very, very comfortable with," Giuliani told Barbara Walters on ABC News' "20/20."

Late Friday, the Giuliani campaign issued a statement in which the former New York City mayor suggested that would not be the case.

"Obviously, she will not be a Cabinet member or attend most Cabinet meetings - if any. But she will pursue a campaign to educate Americans on preventing illness and promoting overall health."

Judith Nathan Giuliani was a nurse.

In the statement, the former mayor sought to play down his own remarks and suggested any discussion of a policy role for his wife was merely prompted by Walters' questioning.

So which is it? Will Giuliani tell Walters one thing, and then concerned Republicans another?