Tucked away...
I meant to post this one last week, but things got a bit hectic and it slipped out of my mind.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was in Groton last week to headline a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District. The event, which included one of those "private receptions" where for a mere $1,000 contribution to Simmons re-election campaign you can have your photo taken with the guest of honor, was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The main event, where for $250 you can stand in the room with everyone else and just snap all the pictures you want, was slated to run from 6-7 p.m.
But bad weather forced the mayor's plane to be diverted to Providence instead of landing in Groton, and thus an hour's drive back down the highway, resulting in a delay in the festivities. When the guest of honor finally took the stage at 7 p.m., the event moved along quickly - lasting a grand total of 39 minutes.
But what I found most interesting was this...
If Giuliani's visit here was suppose to cement the idea that Simmons is an "independent, moderate"' Republican - as he states in the TV commercial the Simmons campaign is running - then it was bust.
In his brief remarks (no more than 20 minutes max), Giuliani couldn't praise President George Bush anymore than what he did...and he continually added Simmons' name to that praise. Throughout his speech, it was..."George Bush and Rob Simmons this..." and "George Bush and Rob Simmons that..." over, and over again.
But I doubt it did any damage to the incumbent. The 150 or so guests who paid to be there seemed quite pleased to see Giuliani and could probably care less why he was there.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was in Groton last week to headline a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District. The event, which included one of those "private receptions" where for a mere $1,000 contribution to Simmons re-election campaign you can have your photo taken with the guest of honor, was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The main event, where for $250 you can stand in the room with everyone else and just snap all the pictures you want, was slated to run from 6-7 p.m.
But bad weather forced the mayor's plane to be diverted to Providence instead of landing in Groton, and thus an hour's drive back down the highway, resulting in a delay in the festivities. When the guest of honor finally took the stage at 7 p.m., the event moved along quickly - lasting a grand total of 39 minutes.
But what I found most interesting was this...
If Giuliani's visit here was suppose to cement the idea that Simmons is an "independent, moderate"' Republican - as he states in the TV commercial the Simmons campaign is running - then it was bust.
In his brief remarks (no more than 20 minutes max), Giuliani couldn't praise President George Bush anymore than what he did...and he continually added Simmons' name to that praise. Throughout his speech, it was..."George Bush and Rob Simmons this..." and "George Bush and Rob Simmons that..." over, and over again.
But I doubt it did any damage to the incumbent. The 150 or so guests who paid to be there seemed quite pleased to see Giuliani and could probably care less why he was there.
posted by Ray Hackett at 11:20 AM
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