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Rudy Giuliani Says He Doesn't Know Carl Paladino, Offers No Endorsement

By DNAinfo Staff on September 22, 2010 7:34pm

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will not say if he plans to endorse Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will not say if he plans to endorse Republican gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino.
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DNAinfo/Josh Williams

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani  made it clear Wednesday that he's in no rush to endorse his party's gubernatorial nominee, Carl Paladino.

"I don’t know Carl Paladino and he hasn’t asked for my endorsement and I don’t endorse people that I don’t know and who haven’t asked for it," Giuliani, a Republican, said on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, the Daily News reported.

"My inclination is to support a Republican, but I have no basis to make a decision," he added.

Paladino, who is currently trailing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Cuomo only 43 to 49 percent, is getting strong support from Tea Party voters.

The Tea Party helped him win the Republican nomination for governor in a stunning defeat of former GOP Rep. Rick Lazio in last week's primaries.

When asked about some of the Republican nominee's more controversial statements, which include calling Manhattatines "pampered liberal elitists" and referring to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as an "antichrist" and comparing him to Hitler, Giuliani said the comments would not affect his decision on whether to back Paladino.

"A decision to endorse him or not would go a lot deeper than whether he made some inappropriate remarks," Giuliani said.

Republican nominee for governor, Carl Paladino, has not yet received Rudy Giuliani's endorsement.
Republican nominee for governor, Carl Paladino, has not yet received Rudy Giuliani's endorsement.
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AP Photo/Don Heupel

The ex-mayor had endorsed Lazio, who lost to Paladino but won the Conservative Party nomination and could still run on that line.

Lazio has not yet announced if he plans to stay in the race. Giuliani said Wednesday that he had not spoken to the former congressman since his loss and does not know what Lazio's intentions are.