Giuliani Confronts String of Bad News

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks at a Republican fundraiser in Newport Beach, Calif., in this March 24, 2007, file photo. Giuliani's campaign has confronted a spate of bad news in the last week, from the drug indictment of his South Carolina chairman Thomas Ravenel to criticism for skipping meetings of the Iraq study group. (AP Photo/Mark Avery) (Mark Avery - Associated Press)

_New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was elected in 2001 with Giuliani's support, last week switched from Republican to unaffiliated, clearing the way for a possible independent presidential bid.

_Victims' advocates called on Giuliani to fire Monsignor Alan Placa, a Catholic priest suspended from the church over abuse allegations, from Giuliani's security consulting firm. A Giuliani spokeswoman said last week that the company has no plans to fire Placa, a childhood friend of Giuliani's.

_Former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christie Todd Whitman said New York City, under then-mayor Giuliani, was repeatedly told that Sept. 11 emergency workers on the debris pile should wear respirators to protect their lungs. Whitman testified Monday on Capitol Hill. Giuliani's campaign responded that all ground zero workers were repeatedly told to wear respirators.

Analysts say older stories could also persist. For example, federal prosecutors are pursuing an investigation of Bernard Kerik, who was Giuliani's police commissioner and worked for his consulting firm.

All three leading Republicans _ Giuliani, McCain and Romney _ have dealt with bad news. Compounding their woes, however, is a GOP electorate hardly wowed by its choices _ and Thompson waiting in the wings.

"Certainly Giuliani has had a rough couple of weeks," said Dante Scala, political science professor at the University of New Hampshire. "He can recover. In terms of trying to get activists' support and buzz, that's what summer is for."

Indeed, Giuliani's campaign promised to spend the summer promoting Giuliani and his dozen proposals _ he calls them the "Twelve Commitments" _ to address crime, spending, education and other areas.

"As voters have the opportunity to learn about the Mayor's Twelve Commitments, we will have provided them with ample cause to vote for Mayor Giuliani and solidify support," the memo reads.

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EDITOR'S NOTE _ Libby Quaid covers politics for The Associated Press.