Giuliani calls Darren White ‘a superb candidate’

Former New York Mayor and GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani says his party’s contender in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District race, Darren White, is “a superb candidate” whose opponent is a liberal extremist.

Giuliani said White has practical experience that will make him a great congressman. He was in Albuquerque on Wednesday to attend a fundraiser for White, the Bernalillo County sheriff.

“I’m here for Darren because I believe he would make a superb member of Congress. This is an easy one, to support him,” Giuliani said in a phone interview. “He’s got the same kind of background I have — a law enforcement background. This is someone who has tremendous experience. … the kind of person that you need at a time in which safety and security is critical.”

Giuliani, a former U.S. attorney, said White would also keep taxes low and government growth under control. His opponent, Democrat Martin Heinrich, “certainly isn’t a strong supporter of the military, wants to raise taxes, wants to increase government spending,” Giuliani said. He called Heinrich “far left, further to the left than most Democrats.”

Heinrich spokeswoman Angela Barranco said Heinrich “has three Central New Mexico sheriffs testifying to his support for law enforcement, not a high-paid Republican lobbyist from New York City. Martin is the only one in this race to have balanced a budget, and in Congress he will prioritize middle-class New Mexico families.”

“Giuliani came to New Mexico to repay Darren White for his loyalty chairing George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign in Bernalillo County, and for his support of the war in Iraq and the failed economic policies of the last eight years,” Barranco said.

Giuliani, who was at the Democrats’ convention in Denver before traveling to Albuquerque, said during the interview that New Mexico is an “enormously important state” in the 2008 election. He said Republican presidential candidate John McCain — who defeated him earlier this year in the primary — has a strong chance of beating Democrat Barack Obama in New Mexico.

“He’s a Republican who has worked with Democrats. In fact, he’s gotten in trouble with our party for doing that,” Giuliani said. “I think he’s somebody that Democrats — particularly those who are somewhat disillusioned with Sen. Obama — I think he’s somebody they could vote for.”

Giuliani said McCain doesn’t have New Mexico in the bag. He has to convince voters here and elsewhere that he would keep America safe, move toward energy independence, keep taxes low, keep government expenditures under control and grow the economy, Giuliani said.

He said he expects to be back in New Mexico before the Nov. 4 election to campaign for McCain.