Posted on Thu, Aug. 17, 2006

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VISITING S.C.

Beef up ports security, Giuliani says

By AARON GOULD SHEININ

asheinin@thestate.com

CHARLESTON — Seaports in the United States, including the Port of Charleston, are not as safe from terrorism as they should be, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said here Wednesday.

Giuliani, a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate, was in South Carolina’s major port city for a $2,500-per-person fundraiser for the state Republican Party at the Hibernian Hall on Meeting Street.

Standing less than a mile from the headquarters of the busiest container port in the Southeast or Gulf Coast, Giuliani told reporters at a pre-event news conference that nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks, the country’s “ports are not as safe as the airports. We have not emphasized port security the same way as airport security.”

“We are quite vulnerable in our ports and they need a tremendous amount of attention,” Giuliani said. But, he said, “You can’t be free and not be vulnerable.”

With the coming anniversary of the attacks that leveled the World Trade Center in New York City, Giuliani said he is prepared for the renewed attention on him, his role as mayor during the attacks, the pain Americans continue to suffer, and the nearly five-year-old war on terrorism.

It’s not difficult, he said, because 9/11 is always with him, personally and politically. He’ll forever be the so-called “America’s Mayor,” who rallied his city, and by extension, the country.

“I came to terms with that quite a while ago,” he said. “I do think about it every day. I do. And some days, it’s very sad, and sometimes it’s very difficult.”

But Wednesday’s visit to the Lowcountry, which followed a round-table appearance in Greenville, was not all about five years ago. Much of it was about November 2006, as well as 2008.

“My objective is to do everything I can in 2006 to help elect Republican candidates,” he said.

How much the Republican Party brought in Wednesday night was not immediately known, said party spokeswoman Kara Borie. She said they expected more than 200 guests, but not each paid $2,500.

Guiliani was surrounded by Republican candidates, too. Incumbent statewide Republicans included Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers. State treasurer candidate Thomas Ravenel was also there. First lady Jenny Sanford was there to represent her husband, Gov. Mark Sanford.

The one statewide official with no opposition in November, Republican Attorney General Henry McMaster, was also on hand. And it was McMaster’s presence, as much as Giuliani’s, that reminded many of what is at stake in South Carolina for Republicans after November.

With S.C. Republicans expected to have a key spot on the 2008 presidential primary calendar, potential candidates are streaming to the state at a steady pace. McMaster has thrown his support behind U.S. Sen. John McCain, should the Arizona Republican throw his hat into the ring again.

McCain will be in South Carolina today and Friday.

Giuliani would not say Wednesday if he’ll be a candidate. But McMaster said he hopes the former mayor does run.

“I think Rudy would be a superb candidate,” McMaster said. “But my choice right now is for Senator John McCain.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.