Giuliani Courts Key ‘First in the Nation’ Voters

ABC News Jan Simmonds Reports:  Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made a quick visit to New Hampshire Monday, where he spoke about the importance of the first-in-the-nation primary.

"We will be here and working very hard to get your vote," Giuliani told the crowd of about 250 people in Durham. 

"This is a very, very important primary. It always has been, it always will be.  It’s the first in the nation and we want to do everything we can to win the vote here now," he said.

But when the Town Hall was over, Giuliani left the room only shaking a few hands before his exit — a departure from his usual practice of signing autographs and chatting with those in attendance for ten to fifteen minutes following such an event.

Giuliani has faced skepticism about his commitment to competing in New Hampshire throughout his campaign.  Over the weekend it was reported that Giuliani, who has been struggling to increase his poll numbers in the state, will begin to deeply cut back his television presence in New Hampshire by reducing his advertisement buys from the neighboring Boston stations.

While the campaign appears to still be making an effort for a final push in the Granite State, Monday’s events encapsulated the seemingly awkward manner in which they have gone about it. 

Before the Town Hall, Giuliani made an unannounced stop to a holiday shop called the Christmas Dove in Barrington.  According to the campaign, Giuliani bought a holiday angel statue for his wife, Judith.

Giuliani spoke about the visit to the store during the Town Hall, mentioning a conversation he had with a mother whose son was serving in Iraq. 

Wednesday Giuliani will spend the day campaigning in Missouri, a key February 5th primary state. At the end of the week, the former Mayor is planning a three day swing back through New Hampshire before having his campaign takes a break for the Christmas holiday.