Giuliani not running in NY Senate or gubernatorial race

New York City

NEW YORK — After months of playing it coy and flirting with a bid for statewide office, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that he won't return to the campaign trail next year, leaving a wide-open field for New York Republicans interested in the gubernatorial and Senate races.

Giuliani, viewed by many New York Republicans as a savior for the struggling party, said his "significant commitments" to his lucrative law and consulting businesses made it impossible for him to run for office in 2010.

At a news conference to endorse ex-congressman Rick Lazio for governor, Giuliani said he had considered running against incumbent Democrat Gov. David Paterson and in the U.S. Senate race next year against freshman Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

Unwilling to bow to speculation that this might be the end of his political career, the 65-year-old said he wouldn't rule out running for office in the future. "It's a decision purely about 2010," he said. "I have no idea whether I'll run for something else."

GOP chairman collecting fees

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele drew bipartisan criticism Tuesday after it was revealed that he is giving paid speeches, at up to $20,000 apiece, while still holding his full-time post as party head.

The former Maryland lieutenant governor, who was elected chairman in January, has given a dozen speeches to corporate boards and colleges while collecting a salary of $223,500 as party leader, the Washington Times reported Tuesday.

Former RNC Chairman Richard Bond said he was "shocked" by the news, while White House spokesman Robert Gibbs joked about it at Tuesday's briefing. Democrats said their current party chairman, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine, does not collect speaking fees.

Curt Anderson, a longtime adviser to Steele, said the party chairman has long worked as an "inspirational speaker" and continued after taking the RNC's helm.

Also

Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith announced Tuesday he is switching to the GOP, another blow to Democrats facing a potentially tough midterm election. Democrats will hold 257 House seats to the GOP's 178 after Griffith's switch. The radiation oncologist, 67, was narrowly elected last year in a district that includes Huntsville and Decatur. President Obama lost badly there to Republican John McCain. Griffith had accumulated one of the most conservative voting records of any House Democrat. He was one of seven Democrats to oppose Obama's economic-stimulus measure early this year.