Giuliani Swings for Fences and at Thompson

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds reports:  Shortly after taking batting practice at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., took some verbal swings at the new Republican presidential contender, Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.

Without mentioning the former senator and actor by name, Giuliani took umbrage with Thompson’s statement on Friday that 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden is "more symbolism than anything else."

“It is just not symbolic,” said Giuliani following a brief reception for about 150 supporters outside the stadium.  “If you think its just symbolic, I’m not sure you understand the full depth of Islamic terrorism.”   

“If you can remove some of that leadership you will see an ability to roll it back,” he later added.  “So the capture of Bin Laden should not be seen as just a symbolic thing. It is, and its important to capture him. But its not just symbolic.”

In the Dallas area for a handful of fundraisers, Giuliani also took the field to throw out the honorary first pitch before the Rangers game with the Oakland Athletics. While the longtime Yankee fan will surely not be replacing Roger Clemens anytime soon, he did show a strong arm, throwing the ball just to the right of home plate. Giuliani was then joined in the stands by Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, a bundler for the Giuliani campaign and former Bush ranger.