New Giuliani Ad Says Not Perfect But ‘Tested’

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds reports:  Encouraged by recent poll numbers, both nationally and in New Hampshire, GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani today unveiled a new radio ad, entitled “Tested”. 

The ad, to hit the airwaves solely in New Hampshire, begins with the former New York City mayor acknowledging that he has some flaws, but that he also has a proven record of bringing back results.

“I’ve been tested in a way in which the American people can look to me,” says Giuliani in the opening lines. “They’re not going to find perfection, but they’re gonna find somebody who’s dealt with crisis almost on a regular basis and has had results, results people thought were impossible.”

As the radio message continues, the narrator weaves you through several audio clips of Giuliani from the campaign trail trying to knock home the message that he is best equipped to fight the war on terror, lower taxes, and reduce the size of government.

Before signing off, the narrator notes that Giuliani is “the Republican that Democrats just don’t want to run against” in another attempt  at persuading Republican voters that he is their best shot to defeat leading Democrat Hillary Clinton.   

An ABC News/Washington Post released today shows Giuliani’s support resting largely on his performance as New York City’s mayor on Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani peaked at 40 percent among Republicans who say he did an excellent job handling that crisis, and moves higher, to 48 percent, among those who think his 9/11 response shows how he’d perform as president.

Following that 47 percent pick Giuliani as the "strongest leader" among the leading Republican candidates, more than double his closest competitor on this measure, McCain.