GOP Presidential Candidates Court Conservatives

Struggling along with other Republican presidential candidates to attract conservatives, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has brought on California's Bill Simon--the financier who ran unsuccessfully against Gov. Gray Davis in 2002--as his new policy director. Simon has been helping Giuliani raise money in California and elsewhere.

In addition, U.S. Sen. John McCain announced today that a variety of California Republican lawmakers have endorsed his campaign: Senator Jeff Denham, former Assembly GOP leader George Plescia, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia and Assemblyman Van Tran. Plescia said: “John McCain’s common sense conservative principles have anchored his decision-making process throughout his public service career."

As they like to tell the story, Giuliani and Simon were having breakfast on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when the terrorist attacks occurred. Giuliani helped campaign for Simon in 2002 (pictured), and they have been friends for years. Simon had a fairly uneventful stint working for Giuliani when the former New York mayor was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The Giuliani campaign made sure to include this note about Simon today: "He has given speeches to numerous conservative organizations including the Heritage Foundation, Manhattan Institute, Conservative Political Action Conference and the Pacific Research Institute. In addition, he has appeared regularly on Fox News and written articles for the American Spectator and NewsMax.com."

Giuliani: Fair and balanced.

(Photo: Damian Dovarganes / AP)