A group of 9/11 conspiracy theorists heckled Republican presidential front-runner Rudy Giuliani as supporters booed back and chanted “Rudy” at a campaign stop in Loveland on Saturday.
Jason Charles, a member of , accused the former New York City mayor of having prior knowledge of the attack on the World Trade Center and covering up evidence that would have shown a conspiracy.
“He covered up criminal evidence that was on the scene,” he said.
“The conspiracy theorists are protesting all over the place. It is very sad; it’s not true,” Giuliani said after at least one of the hecklers was escorted from the Loveland Coffee Co., where Giuliani signed autographs and posed with supporters.
More than 100 people crowded outside and within the small shop to see Giuliani, who leads in polls for the Republican nomination.
As a former Republican mayor of a Democratic city, Giuliani has ridden his performance in the wake of the attack to the national stage. He has won support from Republicans despite his pro-abortion and other liberal positions.
Giuliani faced questions from media about his recommendation of former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik to head the Department of Homeland Security.
Kerik, who was indicted on federal corruption charges on Friday, later withdrew his bid for the post, saying he had hired an illegal immigrant.
Prosecutors say Kerik skimmed hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal income as police commissioner.
“I made a mistake,” Giuliani said of Kerik, who began working as his chauffeur in 1991 and rose to become New York’s top cop under Giuliani.
“I apologized for the mistake, I should have vetted him more carefully. I have done many things; that doesn’t mean I made all the right decisions,” he said.
Giuliani went on to say that during his time as mayor, New York became one of the safest cities in the United States.
“Do I do everything right? No. Do I learn from my mistakes? Yes.”
There was little indication in Giuliani’s remarks that he fears any Republican opponents. He leveled all of his criticism against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic Party’s front-runner.
He accused her of shifting her positions on Iran, immigration and other issues. His differences with Republican candidates are small, he said. But the gap between himself and Democrats is large.
He didn’t respond to a reporter who asked if he believes that waterboarding – simulated drowning that has been used in questioning some terrorists – is torture.
Loveland resident Rick Blagg, 45, showed up at the meet-and-greet armed with two cameras and accompanied by his 6-year-old daughter, Hannah.
“I wanted my daughter to see Mayor Giuliani. He is a historical figure and potentially the next president.”
Gap-toothed and blue-eyed Hannah said she didn’t know what the fuss was about.
“We will have pictures,” her father said.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
Related
N.M. Rep. Tom Udall running for Senate
SANTA FE — U.S. Rep. Tom Udall has decided to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Pete Domenici, an aide said.
“He’s definitely running,” Tom Nagle, Udall’s chief of staff, told The Associated Press. The congressman will make a formal announcement when he’s back in New Mexico during Congress’ Thanksgiving recess, Nagle said.
Udall’s decision means a wide-open congressional races in all three New Mexico districts in 2008.
The state’s other two members of Congress, Republicans Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, are giving up their seats to run for the GOP nomination for Domenici’s seat. Domenici plans to retire in January 2009 because of an incurable brain disease.
Udall, who was elected to northern New Mexico’s 3rd District seat in 1998, is a former two-term state attorney general and the son of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.
Udall is a cousin of Mark Udall, the Democratic congressman from Colorado, who also is running for the Senate.
The Associated Press
