Yesterday we noted that Rudy Giuliani was scheduled to be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the very day that the Values Voter Presidential Debate was taking place, though he and the other top-tier candidates had all declined to participate. While the other candidates all gave excuses about scheduling conflicts, the Giuliani campaign didn’t even bother trying to come up with an excuse.
Needless to say, his refusal to attend the event when he was in town campaigning just four miles away did not endear him to the organizers of the debate, with Janet Folger saying he was essentially telling them "I’m here in town, but I don’t care enough about your values to actually show up."
Apparently, the Giuliani campaign is starting to think that sticking a finger in the eye of the GOP’s right-wing base might not have been a very good idea and so Giuliani is desperately trying to come up with an excuse about why he didn’t make it:
Giuliani was slated to meet with supporters at a Tampa cafe and attend a fundraiser.
Asked why he wasn't attending the debate, Giuliani said, “I wasn't aware of it.''
Oh really? That is odd, since his campaign sent a letter to the organizers weeks ago declining the invitation:
The Giuliani camp didn't even bother with the scheduling-conflict ruse, providing the Sun with the text of a letter the former mayor's campaign manager, Michael DuHaime, sent to the debate's organizers on Friday. "Thank you for your kind invitation for Mayor Giuliani to attend a presidential debate hosted by Values Voters," Mr. DuHaime wrote. "Unfortunately Mayor Giuliani will be unable to accept your invitation."
And in case it has slipped his mind since then, his campaign also shared the letter with CBN’s David Brody just last week when he inquired why Giuliani would not be attending.
If Giuliani thinks his excuse is going to convince anyone, he’d better think again.
