Giuliani Confirms He's Running in 2008

Feb. 15, 2007 — -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani confirmed what many people have known for some time: He's running for president in 2008.

Giuliani confirmed that he was entering the race Wednesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," saying, "Yes, I'm running. … I think I can make a difference. I believe that the country needs leadership."

Asked whether he would make a formal announcement as other candidates had done, he said, "I guess you do."

Earlier this month, Giuliani filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. In November, he filed paperwork setting up an exploratory committee.

The moderate Republican gained national recognition for his leadership after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

With his more liberal views on issues such as abortion and gay rights, Giuliani will have to do some work to win over the social conservative base of the Republican Party.

He has started to imply that he would support judges who might not share his views on abortion.

"I would appoint judges that interpreted the Constitution rather than invented it, understood the difference between being a judge and being a legislator," Giuliani said recently on the Fox News Channel.

Giuliani has also expressed his support for President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

But Wednesday night on King's show, he took a more critical view of Bush's handling of the war, saying he was not confident the situation in Iraq was going to "turn around."

"I'm confident that we have to try to make a turnaround, and we just can't walk out, and that it is critical to us that things get to the point in Iraq that we have some degree of stability and not the way they are now," Giuliani said.

"Because if we leave it the way it is now and we run out, then we're going to face further difficulties in the future," he said.