Rudy Giuliani Heads To NH To Explore Presidential Bid
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Is Rudy Giuliani running for president? Well, he says he's not ruling anything out as he heads to New Hampshire this week for his fourth visit this year.
The former New York City mayor says he isn't convinced that any of the declared Republican presidential contenders can defeat President Barack Obama.
"These are a lot of qualified people,'' he told The Associated Press. "Do they have a good chance of winning? I don't know the answer to that.''
Giuliani has five public appearances set for his two-day visit to New Hampshire starting on Thursday.
The stops include a luncheon with the Seacoast Federation of Republican Women in Portsmouth, a gathering at a private New Castle home with law enforcement officials and a gun-rights discussion at Manchester Harley Davidson.
While it may sound like a candidate's schedule, Giuliani said he's not making a decision any time soon, saying his timeline is likely to be late August or early September.
He says he has "a tremendous fire for more public service" but doesn't seem eager to be considered a potential presidential candidate just yet.
"I certainly haven't decided to get in. I don't think I would even describe myself as testing the waters. I'd say that I keep it open as a possibility,'' he said, adding he was going to New Hampshire at the invitation of local Republicans. "And it will give me a chance to gather more information and get a better feeling for it.''
He spoke at a GOP fundraiser in Manchester, New Hampshire back in March and said he should have spent more time in New Hampshire during his failed 2008 campaign.
In June, Giuliani was a keynote speaker at another state Republican party fundraiser in New Hampshire.
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