Rangel On Rudy's Success: "I Am So Surprised, I Don't Know What To Do"

L.G.: Are you surprised that your old friend Rudy Giuliani is doing so well?

C.R.: I am so surprised, I don't know what to do. I don't want to say anything that would cause him not to be the Republican presidential nominee, but it amazes me how people from outside of New York see somebody that those of us in New York have never known.

L.G.: What do you think is driving that?

C.R.: The war, the war, the war. Just as people came to the president's defense in 9/11, the fact is, the president wasn't here, Rudolph Giuliani was. So nationally, what face did they see? They didn't see President Bush, they saw Rudy Giuliani marching up and down, waving and whatnot. That's what America needed. We were frightened as hell and he was there, and that's good.

L.G.: Were you surprised that he has been apparently such a proficient and talented candidate thus far?

C.R.: I don't really think he's that good. I think he's that good compared to the rest of them, but really I think it's a weak bench they got out there. I think it's really sad, when I listen to Huckabee and Romney-who really had the same record as Senator Kerry, you know.

Read more on Portfolio