==============RUMOR MILL NEWS AGENCY========

May 11, 2000

SOURCE: GUILIANI LEANING TOWARD QUITTING THE RACE

"Earlier today, a senior Republican official close to Giuliani told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the mayor was leaning toward quitting the race."

Giuliani: No Call Yet on Senate Run By Timothy Williams Associated Press Writer Thursday, May 11, 2000; 2:12 p.m. EDT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000511/aponline141231_000.htm

NEW YORK –– Mayor Rudolph Giuliani insisted today he has not decided whether to abandon his race for the Senate as he fought speculation that cancer and marital problems have put him on the verge of dropping out.

"I haven't made up my mind if I have the energy and the capacity to run," he said at a news conference.

He angrily dismissed what he called "false rumors" and statements from anonymous sources that he was about to quit the race against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I didn't discuss that with anyone," he said. "I didn't even think about it yesterday."

With Giuliani and his wife discussing separation, his health in jeopardy and an extra-marital relationship exposed, the mayor himself seemed uncertain Wednesday about whether he'd stay in the race for the GOP nomination.

"I don't really care about politics right now. I'm thinking about my family, the people that I love and what can be done that's honest and truthful and that protects them the best," he said at a news conference announcing that he and his wife were discussing a legal separation. "Politics comes at least second, maybe third, maybe fourth, somewhere else at least."

But, asked today if he still wants to be senator if his health allows it, Giuliani said: "I very much would like the opportunity to carry on my public service, yes. ... Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated."

Earlier today, a senior Republican official close to Giuliani told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the mayor was leaning toward quitting the race.

"His heart, his soul, his body are not in this thing," said the official, who also said Giuliani hadn't made a final decision.

Republicans in Washington and New York were already talking about who might run against the first lady if Giuliani drops out. Names mentioned included Gov. George Pataki, businessman Ted Forstmann and Reps. Sue Kelly and Rick Lazio, who had already said he was considering making a bid for the nomination, even with Giuliani in the race.

Wednesday was was the first time Giuliani, 55, had confirmed that his marriage with Donna Hanover, 50, a television personality and actress, is strained. The couple have two children: Andrew, 14, and Caroline, 10.

He said the situation was "very, very painful."

"For quite some time, it's probably been apparent that Donna and I lead, in most ways, independent and separate lives," he said. "It's been a very painful road and I hope we'll be able to formalize that in an agreement that protects our children, that gives them all the security and protection that they deserve."

Asked this morning on NBC's "Today" show about the possibility of Giuliani's departure, Clinton said: "That's something I have absolutely no control over. Whoever runs against me, I will just keep doing what I'm doing, which is to talk about where I stand on the issues and what I would do in the Senate."

But several times her choice of words betrayed growing confidence and she bypassed the phrase "if I am elected."

Republican political consultant Jay Severin said that while the mayor's announcement doesn't automatically translate into a political loss, the only one who stood to benefit from it was Clinton.

The disclosure of the marital breakdown caps a bizarre two weeks for Giuliani, who guards his privacy zealously but has recently been forced to make a series of public announcements about personal matters.

On April 27, Giuliani announced he had been diagnosed with treatable prostate cancer and said it could affect his run for the Senate. On May 3, he acknowledged that Judith Nathan, a 45-year-old divorcee with whom he has been seen at public events, was a "very good friend" but refused to further characterize the relationship.

Hanover held her own news conference Wednesday to confirm the separation and say the marriage had been strained for years.

"Today's turn of events brings me great sadness," she said, her eyes welling with tears. "I had hoped that we could keep this marriage together. For several years, it was difficult to participate in Rudy's public life because of his relationship with one staff member."

Joannie Danielides, Hanover's press secretary, said her boss was referring to Cristyne Lategano-Nicholas, Giuliani's former communications director. In 1997, Vanity Fair magazine reported there was a romantic link between her and Giuliani. Both denied the report and it was never confirmed.

Lategano-Nicholas, who has since left City Hall and married, said Wednesday: "I have no desire to speculate why Donna Hanover decided to issue the statement that she did. Understandably, this is a difficult time. I wish both the mayor and Donna Hanover a successful resolution."

While appealing for privacy Wednesday, Giuliani acknowledged that as an elected official, his "private life is open to everyone."

He said neither he nor his wife plan on moving out of Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence, for the time being.

"A separation agreement is not a divorce," he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE – AP Political Writer Ron Fournier contributed to this story from Washington.

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BACKGROUND ARTICLES

GIULIANI AND WIFE SEPARATING http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=3085

WILL RUDY WITHDRAW -- RMNEWS PREDICTED THIS http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=2830

RUDY TO DECIDE BY END OF MAY http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=2888

TBO--WHY FACTION TWO WANTS HILLARY IN THE SENATE http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=2571

PROTESTORS CALL FOR GIULIANI'S RESIGNATION http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=2728

PROTESTERS THREATEN TO KILL GIULIANI AND SON http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=2396

ALL OFFICERS IN DIALLO CASE NOT GUILTY http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=1795

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