Rudy Giuliani Hails McCain

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said Thursday that the nation must choose this fall between "a true American hero" who survived torture in Vietnam and a Chicago "machine politician" who "has never led anything. Nothing. Nada."In a keynote address to Republican convention delegates and a national TV audience, Giuliani called John McCain and Democratic nominee Barack Obama "good and patriotic men" before ripping into Obama, an Illinois senator and former state senator.

"John has been tested. Barack Obama has not," Giuliani said of McCain, a former Navy pilot who endured 5½ years as a POW after his plane was shot down in 1967. "Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on-the-job training."Giuliani said Democrats "are in a state of denial" about the threat of Islamic terrorism, while McCain will face the enemy "and bring victory for this country."A onetime candidate himself for the Republican nomination, Giuliani had been scheduled to speak Tuesday to set the tone of the convention. But Monday's speeches were canceled as Hurricane Gustav approached the Gulf Coast. The rejiggered lineup put Giuliani on the same night as a much anticipated speech from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's pick for vice president.