Giuliani Tries to Stay Relevant

Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign is scrambling to get in on the saturation coverage of the Iowa caucuses this week.

Giuliani aides have been contacting reporters, reminding them that even though the former New York mayor is lagging badly in tomorrow night's caucuses, according to the polls, he will remain a player in the big states that hold their primaries in upcoming weeks. Senior Giuliani advisers plan an aggressive schedule of interviews and meetings with reporters later this week to argue that—no matter what happens in Iowa and in the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday (where Giuliani also lags)—the former mayor will surge back into contention by winning the Florida primary January 29 and by scoring big victories in the big states that hold primaries on February 5, including New York, New Jersey, and California.

Emphasizing his record as mayor and his performance in dealing with the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a senior Giuliani adviser offered a summary of his message this morning: "Mayor Giuliani is the tested leader who can tackle the tough challenges facing our country right now." But whether that message can break through the massive coverage of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary remains to be seen.

—Kenneth T. Walsh