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June 6, 2007

Update: Guests awaiting Giuliani at Waterplace

PROVIDENCE -- At least 20 to 30 people have wandered into Waterplace Restaurant as they await the arrival of Republican presidential hopeful and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

As of 11:35 a.m. Giuliani had not yet arrived for the11:30 fund-raising lunch. Guests are paying from $500 to $1,500 to attend.

Reporters and cameras are set up outside and several people are milling about on a day that is seeing political luminaries descend on the city to raise campaign funds.

Giuliani hadn't arrived by about 11:30 a.m., but when state Republican Chairman Giovanni Cicione got there, he was swarmed by the media, which grilled him about Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin's criticism of Giuliani's support of abortion rights.

Tobin's criticism has attracted national press coverage.

Cicione defended Giuliani, saying the former New York mayor has had a consistent position on the issue. He also characterized some of Tobin's criticism as "a little harsh."

In a May 31 column that ran in the diocese newspaper, Tobin wrote in part, "Rudy’s public proclamations on abortion are pathetic and confusing. Even worse, they’re hypocritical."

Former President Bill Clinton is also expected at a fund-raiser for the presidential campaign of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. That event is also being held now, at the home of former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino.

Sitings of Ocean State politicos so far? Former Gov. Lincoln Almond and his wife have arrived as have former Lt. Gov. Bernard Jackvony.

Red, white and blue balloons are affixed to a campaign sign for Giuliani.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson and Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Your turn: If the presidential election were held today, would you vote for Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani? Why?

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 11:42 AM | Permalink

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