Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Told Ya So's, Headshaking Over Giuliani Campaign
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 31, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 31, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Rudy Giuliani's poor showing in the presidential campaign has plenty of people giving their opinions on why it all went wrong.
Bronx residents gave the NY Times an earful about the former mayor ("I was waiting for this moment — he stinks...Giuliani was always for himself, never for the people.") while the Daily News reported on the "hick" comments of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who said, "The New York lifestyle hasn't gone over [in] some places. It seemed like the more people got acquainted with him, the less they liked him."
In fact, Grassley's comments made people quasi-defend Giuliani; former Mayor Ed Koch said, "Rudy did not project New York. He projected his own personality, which was more than insensitive, it was ruthless. New Yorkers are pussycats. We're not ruthless. Most of the children from [Iowa] come here to live because of the freedom and anonymity."
But the best comment comes from Guy Molinari, co-chair of Rudy's NYC committee; he told the Staten Island Advance:
"It was the damn strategy that they adopted. I mean, [that] was the dumbest thing that I ever saw," said Molinari of the decision to largely forgo campaigning in the early-voting states in favor of the later, delegate-rich ones.
"It was a very, very bad political decision. I mean, he was ruined before he started," the former borough president fulminated.
And some are suggesting that Giuliani's third wife Judith Nathan may have played a role in Rudy's 2008 campaign demise and that Bernard Kerik will now take a plea. We're wondering if Judi will stay with Rudy.
Tagged
Bernard Kerik
bronx
Chuck
daily news
ed koch
election 2008
giuliani
guy molinari
Iowa
judith nathan
mayor
mayor ed koch
new york
new yorkers
news
ny times
nyc
Politics
presidential campaign
rudy giuliani
staten island
Staten Island Advance
The New York
voting
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police responded to at the 53rd Street and 7th Avenue station in Manhattan.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 2:04 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .