Recent news stories about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani visiting New Hampshire as a potential 2012 Republican Presidential candidate reminds me just because Rudy made it here (in the Big Apple), doesn’t mean he can make it anywhere. Giuliani tried and failed miserably in the 2008 GOP Presidential Primary. He needs to be realistic and come back home.

Why not run for the Senate against liberal Democrat Kristen Gillibrand in 2012 instead?

Rudy is a proven crime fighter. As a two-term mayor of New York City previously dominated by political corruption of Democratic one-party rule, he turned the Big Apple around. During his administration in the 1990s, crime was reduced, streets became both cleaner and safer, economic growth and the creation of jobs were on the upswing and the city budget was balanced.

After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, he served as a beacon of strength for all New Yorkers who survived the terrible aftermath to go on with life.

New York State Democrats outnumber Republicans by a margin of over five to three. Democrats currently hold all statewide offices. The last Republican Senator was Alfonse D’Amato who lost his seat to Democrat Charles Schumer in 1998.

The last Republican State Comptroller Ned Regan won his final term in 1990. The last Republican State Attorney General Dennis Vacco served only one term winning in 1994. The last Republican to win any statewide office was former Gov. George Pataki who won his final term in 2002. Since that time, no Republican has been successful in winning any statewide office.

Giuliani is one of the few GOPers who has consistently been able to attract large numbers of first time, independent and moderate Democratic voters building a majority coalition necessary for winning public office in New York.

Just like in the science fiction movie “Re animator.” Rudy Giuliani could bring the dead Empire State GOP back to life.

Larry Penner

Great Neck