Giuliani Is Out of the Hospital

Rudy Giuliani leaves a Missouri hospital where he was treated for flu-like symptoms. (By Jeff Roberson -- Associated Press)

CAMPAIGN FEVER

---

Giuliani Is Out of the Hospital

---

Former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was released from a St. Louis hospital Thursday "with a clean bill of health," after an overnight stay for observation of flu-like symptoms, according to his campaign director.

Giuliani began experiencing the symptoms while campaigning in Missouri on Wednesday afternoon, and entered the hospital for observation and testing on the advice of his physician. "Doctors performed a series of precautionary tests, and the results of all the tests were normal. The mayor is heading back to New York this afternoon, and he continues to be in high spirits," campaign spokeswoman Katie Levinson said.

"I feel great. Take care. Merry Christmas. I'm feeling fine, thanks to the hospital," said Giuliani as he exited Barnes-Jewish Hospital, according to the Associated Press. "They did a good job."

Meanwhile, the mayor's pollster, Ed Goeas, reassured reporters this week that his candidate is still very much in the Republican presidential race.

That he found it necessary to do so is a testament to the situation Giuliani finds himself in, with a campaign relegated to the role of sideshow as rivals Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and John McCain battle for the next month in Iowa and New Hampshire, with Giuliani rarely seen in either state.

But in an interview Wednesday night, Goeas said all of that is beside the point. Giuliani is waiting until the first several contests are over, hoping that no one will run away with the race before Florida holds its primary on Jan. 29.

"The game is different this year," he said. "We still like the game we're playing."

-- Michael D. Shear

SOMEONE TO COUNT ON

---