Rudy Hops on Bus to Show N.H. Commitment

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds reports:  Trailing in the polls in New Hampshire, Rudy Giuliani launched his first official campaign bus tour today, hoping that an intense two days of campaigning will quell doubts about his commitment to winning the early primary state.  The bus tour, which does not have one of those flashy campaign slogans, will take the former New York City mayor throughout the state for 11 planned stops.

Still positive and enthusiastic about his chances in New Hampshire, Giuliani repeatedly told supporters he thought he could win on January 8th.

"This is the first in the nation primary, and it’s gonna be a first in the nation primary victory because of your support," Giuliani told a crowd in front of Manchester City Hall where he received the endorsement of newly re-elected Mayor Frank Guinta. 

Although the campaign has been criticized for the lack of time Giuliani has spent in New Hampshire meeting with the voters face to face, the numbers tell a different story.  The former Big Apple Mayor has actually spent more time campaigning in the Granite State — visiting on 25 days — than he has in any other state.

But when you look closer at the amount of time Giuliani has spent shaking hands and talking to the citizens of New Hampshire, the real discrepancies come to light. Not including Saturday’s itinerary, Giuliani has held 55 events in New Hampshire since his campaign began in earnest in January.  And even though his rivals have not been to New Hampshire many more times than Giuliani, the footprint they have left here has been much larger.

Over 29 days in New Hampshire this year, the state Republican frontrunner Gov. Mitt Romney, Mass., has held 85 events. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been to the state on 33 occasions and held 81 events.  Both have also advertised here more than Giuliani, who only began airing television commercials in the state ten days ago.

But speaking to reporters on the press bus, Mayor Guinta said he believes Giuliani’s rise to the top is just about to begin.

"Now that the primary date has been set, you’re going to have seven weeks of very intense interest on both sides of the aisle," said Guinta.  "But I think what you are going to see is the surge from him, in terms of his numbers. You also have to understand the campaign is at the next level, at the next phase in New Hampshire."