Former NY Mayor Giuliani Shows Romney Support in Tampa

Since guiding New York City through the toughest time in its history nearly 11 years ago, former Big Apple Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has been regarded by many as a national hero. On Thursday, he served as a mouthpiece for the Mitt Romney campaign.

Giuliani spoke to a packed room at the Republican party's Florida State headquarters on Harbour Island about the importance of the 2012 election, one that he says for once will live up to its billing as the most crucial in American history.

"We've got a president that is so anti-business, we won't get this economy turned around if something doesn't change," Giuliani said. "Being anti-business is being anti-jobs, which he doesn't seem to understand. We'll be worse off next year than we are this year if he is re-elected. The problems he has created are systemic, to the point that people aren't even looking for jobs any more."

Giuliani went on to attack President Barack Obama's foreign policy and said that Obama "has been more antagonistic toward American business than any president before him."

"This is a man (Obama) who wants a European model of government," Giuliani said. "He's too weak to stand up to Islamic extremist terrorists, a term we can't even say anymore. He's too weak to stand up to the maniacs in Iran because he doesn't want to anger the United Nations. He's anti-profit and anti-business. He hasn't met with his own jobs council in 191 days in the middle of a jobs crisis."

Giuliani talked highly of Romney and pleaded with voters to do their part to deliver a swing state victory in Florida.

"Do not make Florida close like it was in 2000," Giuliani said. "If I did this in New York it would make no difference. But here in Florida, you are right in the middle of deciding this election. If Romney is elected by Florida, he's elected by the nation. You saved this country once, we really need you to save it this time because the stakes are higher than ever before."

Some spectators were in awe of Giuliani for his role in helping the city of New York after the Sept. 11 attacks. David Paolo, 70, a Bronx native now living in Carrollwood, was on hand simply to shake Giuliani's hand, even if he didn't agree with everything the former mayor had to say.

"I'm not sure it's advisable to talk about Islamic people the way he did, even if he is right in some cases," Paolo said. "For me, I really just wanted to be there to shake his hand and see him in person. As a New Yorker, what he did for the city after 9/11 was incredible. He's still well liked, and I think he's positive for Mitt Romney."

Betty McBonkey drove down to South Tampa from Wesley Chapel and was excited about hearing the former mayor. As a former resident of Illinois, she is familiar with Obama's governance and doesn't want to see him in the White House for another four years.

"It just scares me to think of another four years of this," McBonkey said. "I think Giuliani was great today, I'd like to see him be a candidate for vice president. We have so many criminal politicians in Illinois. That's where Obama is from, too."