Let the circus begin

Rudy Giuliani visits Little Rock to ridicule his carpetbagging New York Senate rival, Hillary Clinton.

By Suzi Parker

  • Pages 1 2

Jul 28, 1999 | New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani came to Arkansas Tuesday to visit the home state of the Democratic candidate he's expecting to face in the 2000 New York Senate election.

With a throng of media following his every move, Giuliani raised money on Hillary Rodham Clinton's turf and cracked jokes about his potential opponent's carpetbagging. He pointed to his wristwatch with a New York Yankees insignia on its face.

"I've been a New York Yankee since birth," said Giuliani, in a jab at the first lady and her recent transformation from a Cubs to a Yankees fan.

The media circus showed the extent to which a Clinton-Giuliani matchup will be a national race, giving its partisans a chance to play out the ideological battles that came to a boil during the impeachment debacle last year.

Giuliani and his supporters aimed nonstop zingers at Hillary Clinton, who has been the target of carpetbagging charges since she announced her interest in the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She has never lived in New York nor worked in the state.

A New York flag flew on the Capital Hotel, where a luncheon fund-raiser for Giuliani was held, just across the street from the Excelsior Hotel, the site of President Clinton's alleged encounter with Paula Jones. Giuliani said he was so happy to see the flag that he called home and told City Hall "to find an Arkansas flag and fly it for a few days."

Giuliani joked earlier this year about whether he should run for the Senate in Arkansas. Republican leaders in Arkansas jumped at the chance to show Southern hospitality to the man who is taking on the liberal first lady.

On an extremely sultry Arkansas day, Giuliani was greeted by Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Lt. Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, both Republicans, who invited Giuliani to Arkansas. Hillary Clinton lived in the governor's mansion for 12 years, and it was on that front porch where Giuliani greeted supporters today.

"And he may announce his candidacy for a major political race in Arkansas," joked Huckabee, as he handed Giuliani a framed Arkansas Traveler certificate making the mayor an honorary Arkansan.

The day clearly centered on the battle of Giuliani vs. Clinton. On NBC's "Today" early Tuesday, Huckabee set the stage when he said many Arkansans feel abandoned by the first lady. Later he told Giuliani: "Seems like you have been here more often than your opponent has been lately. Be sure to register to vote while you are here."

Outside the governor's mansion gates, a group of six women who call themselves the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Memphis Chapter stood with anti-Hillary signs making a quiet statement. "We have had enough of the Clintons," said Donna Kay Bridgeforth. "We think its hysterical Rudy would come to Little Rock. It turns the whole carpetbagger thing around."

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