In an attempt to appeal to the hearts of Republican primary voters, Joe Lhota�s campaign released a 2nd 30-second TV ad starting to air today. In the commercial, former mayor Rudy Giuliani touts his Deputy Mr. Lhota’s role during the 9/11 attacks. �It was Joe who kept the city running during 9/11,� Rudy Giuliani says of his fellow Republican. �Joe was one of the most effective leaders in my administration.�

The Lhota campaign hopes that both Giuliani�s endorsement and the invocation of 9/11 and anti-terror themes would play well with GOP primary voters.

�In these uncertain times, there�s only one candidate for mayor who�s already proven he�s ready. More recently, Joe got our subways on line after Sandy,� Giuliani says of Lhota.

�Take it from me: Joe is New York � and he�s ready to be our mayor.�

Republican candidate George McDonald responded with a bland call to leave 9/11 out of the race. �After 12 years, it�s time we finally move forward and not dwell on the past,� he said.

Lhota�s main rival in the Republican primary, John Catsimatidis, challenged Giuliani�s account by highlighting the role played by governor George Pataki � a Catsimatidis supporter. �Mayor Giuliani along with his police, fire, and OEM commissioners all took action on 9/11. Gov. Pataki and his administration called out the National Guard, oversaw the Port Authority and the MTA and suspended many state laws,� Catsimatids spokesman Rob Ryan said. �These facts beg the question: How exactly was Joe Lhota �running� the city?�

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)