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GOP leader joins Guiliani camp

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by Keegan Kyle

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Former New York mayor and 2008 presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani added one of Wisconsin's top Republican leaders to his campaign Monday.

Rick Wiley, executive director for the Wisconsin Republican Party, accepted a job last week as national deputy political director for Giuliani's presidential exploratory committee.

"I've been in conversations with them for a month," Wiley said in a telephone interview with The Badger Herald. "I'm excited because [Giuliani] has a fantastic chance to be the next president."

Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have been called frontrunners by media and political analysts for the 2008 Republican nomination, though neither has officially announced his candidacy.

"Giuliani has been slower than McCain in actively pursuing the nomination," said Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin political science professor and poll analyst.

"[It's] quite interesting," Franklin added. "The media have very clearly said 'McCain' but ignored Giuliani, (even though he has) led the polls."

Franklin said McCain is considered the more serious of the candidates because Giuliani has lacked an organized campaign and some officials are skeptical of his liberal viewpoints.

Wiley said he hopes to help Giuliani and his campaign gain support.

"I'm charged with setting up the staff around the country … (and) setting up the ground game," Wiley said. "I don't know when we may move from a committee to a real campaign … but there's been nothing but optimism."

Working for Giuliani, Wiley said he will oversee the campaign's staff around the country, making sure key regions are covered and fundraising goals are met.

Wiley declined to disclose the campaign's financial goals or his work salary.

As in past presidential elections, Wiley suspects Wisconsin will become a battleground state, since it has one of the earliest primaries, slated for Feb. 19, 2008.

"I would not be the least bit surprised if it comes into play early," added Wiley, who announced his new post with Giuliani Monday.

According to a release by the Wisconsin Republican Party, Wiley became executive director in 2005 and has worked for the organization over the past six years. He was political director for four years and worked in grassroots efforts during the 2000 election.

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