Giuliani Urges Compromise on Iraq Legislation

Giuliani said it is "overly simplistic" to suggest that Republican losses in last year's midterm elections reflected in part a desire on the part of a majority of Americans for a change in course in Iraq. But he said the administration has not effectively communicated its strategy for success there.

"I think that it is a valid criticism or critique to say that that communication maybe should have been better in the past and is improving now, but maybe it should have been better in the past," he said. "But the reality is that the president did respond to the election. There's been a significant change in strategy."

Giuliani said he believes that Bush will make good on his veto threat, but he urged both sides to seek a compromise. "I honestly think they should work this out," he said.

In talking about his campaign, Giuliani expressed satisfaction that he is now positioned to compete effectively in primaries and caucuses in all regions of the country. "All of them look competitive for us," he said. "There doesn't seem to be any one of them where we don't have a chance."

Giuliani equivocated only on whether he will compete to win in Iowa's GOP straw poll, scheduled for Aug. 11. In the past, a poor showing in that contest has been damaging to the hopes of some GOP candidates. "We're going to look at that," he said. "We haven't figured out our whole strategy yet, but we want to win in Iowa."

Asked whether religious and social conservatives have assumed too much influence within the Republican Party, as some moderate Republicans have contended, Giuliani responded: "Absolutely not." But he made clear that Bush's political strategy of using social issues to energize culturally conservative voters is not one that he will emulate. "I think each generation gets to define what's important to them," he said.

He added, however, that he is not seeking to change the direction of the party in significant ways on social issues, noting that his liberal views do not go beyond social issues. On all other issues, he said, he is "essentially in agreement with conservatives."

Giuliani reiterated his support for abortion rights but said: "I don't know that I'd do anything as president to try to preserve that. That's a decision for the court."

If the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, he said, he would oppose any effort by states to put women in prison for seeking abortions. But he said he has not considered whether he would sign federal legislation aimed at codifying abortion rights nationally. "That's so hypothetical, it's impossible to answer," he said.