Rudy hints Fla. loss would end his run

Giuliani hints Fla. loss would end run BY DAVID SALTONSTALL DAILY NEWS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Tuesday, January 29th 2008, 4:00 AM Nesius/Reuters Rudy Giuliani and wife, Judith, arrive for Republican presidential rally in Clearwater Monday. FORT LAUDERDALE - Rudy Giuliani, with his political life hanging in the balance here, hinted broadly Monday that he could end his presidential bid as soon as Wednesday. Asked by reporters on his campaign jet to reflect on the uphill road ahead if he loses Tuesday's Florida Republican primary, Giuliani said, "When it's Wednesday morning, we will make a decision. The reality is that voting hasn't even started yet. I believe we are going to win." But the former mayor also made clear the primary would mark a critical crossroads for his flagging campaign here, which has seen his poll numbers sink from first place to a distant third. He now trails John McCain and Mitt Romney, who were busy trying to paint each other with the scarlet L - for liberal. Giuliani, while sounding upbeat, declined to offer a simple yes when asked if he would be attending a major GOP debate tomorrow in California. "We fully intend to participate in the debate," he said as aides hustled him away. Giuliani's hedged answer underscores the difficulty he'll have if he loses Florida, where he's devoted all his resources. A loss here could set him up for a Super Tuesday shellacking on Feb. 5, when 20-plus states vote. One is New York, where anything but a decisive win could be a lasting embarrassment. The mayor's own rhetoric in recent days has suggested that he considers second place to be a worthless prize in Florida, where the winner will collect all 57 delegates and a hefty dose of momentum going into Feb. 5. "I think the winner in Florida will win the nomination, and we're going to win in Florida," he told reporters. Giuliani staggered through a listless, final day of campaigning by hopscotching across the state in a private jet and greeting small groups of supporters on airport tarmacs. Reporters covering his campaign returned to their plane seats after one leg to find a going-away present of sorts: a signed baseball from Giuliani (worth $11.99 on eBay). In Fort Myers, there were no more than 75 supporters waiting for Giuliani, whose speech sounded more like an appreciation than a call to arms. "We are really thankful for all of the work you've done," a subdued Giuliani told the crowd before turning to his wife, Judith, and thanking her for "all of her help and her assistance and her partnership." With so little good news to tout, the Giuliani campaign was left trying to spin his lack of any major newspaper endorsements - here or in any other state - into a political virtue. "Rudy Giuliani is not endorsed by The Tampa Tribune. Not endorsed by The Orlando Sentinel. Not endorsed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In fact, he's not endorsed by any of the liberal newspapers," a new campaign Web ad noted, although many might dispute that characterization of three essentially mainstream newspapers. The voiceover ended, "Rudy Giuliani. Tested. Ready. Now."