Friday, March 8, 2002

When former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani receives the Reagan Medal of Freedom tonight in Los Angeles for his heroic actions after the Sept. 11 attacks, he'll be introduced by an old friend -- GOP nominee for governor Bill Simon Jr.

The event, coming after Giuliani's visible support for Simon's campaign and the former mayor's appearance headlining a major fund-raiser for congressional Republicans, has raised questions about whether Giuliani -- and the Republican Party -- are trying to capitalize politically on the country's response to the terrorist attacks.

Eyebrows were raised in December when the president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, told Republicans that "we can go to the country" on the issue because voters "trust the Republican Party to do a better job of protecting and strengthening America's military might."

New York media consultant T.J. Walker says perception may be as important as reality in the former mayor's case.

"Giuliani is in danger if he tries to suggest that the spirit of firemen who risked their lives in 9/11 is somehow related to conservatism," Walker said. "To suggest that the heroism is, in any way, a part of Republicanism is really going to seem like dancing on the graves of heroes for political expediency."

Tonight's $1,000-per-head benefit at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library will feature Nancy Reagan presenting the honor for "monumental and lasting contributions to freedom" to Giuliani.

'AMERICA'S MAYOR'

The event, expected to attract a stellar GOP crowd, also will provide a showcase for Simon -- who rocketed from political obscurity to the GOP nomination for governor in a matter of months, in part from the invaluable endorsement from "America's mayor."

"He's going to help us raise money all around the country," Sal Russo, Simon's campaign manager, said this week of Giuliani, who was Simon's former boss in the U.S. attorney's office in New York. "(Bill Simon) is a Kemp-Reagan- Giuliani Republican."

Democrats say Giuliani's ramped-up presence in California underscores their concern that the GOP is trying to politicize the war on terrorism. And it comes soon after Giuliani, though an undisputed national hero, played a star role at the "Tribute to America's Heroes" dinner that raised $7.5 million for the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.

"Giuliani will have to be careful not to appear to use the tragedy of September 11th for political purposes," Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe said yesterday. "We all know Karl Rove's strategy to use the war as a political issue. It would be sad if Giuliani used the September attacks for political gain as well."

Simon's campaign officials, while acknowledging that Giuliani's endorsement,

appearances in television commercials and repeated campaign stops in California helped their candidate, stressed that tonight's Reagan Library benefit is not connected to Simon's campaign.

"It's not a Simon-for-Governor event," said one campaign staffer. "This event is for Rudy. Bill is very sensitive to that fact."

POLITICAL BENEFIT

But Simon's appearance at Giuliani's side comes with a clear and substantial political benefit. The evening will attract a wide range of state Republicans and plenty of media attention for a candidate who just months ago was a political question mark.

Bruce Cain, political science professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said Simon's appearances with Giuliani could help his appeal to critical moderate Democrats and independents. "But the more (appearances) are tied into Republican fund-raising, the more its allure is going to wear off," Cain said. "It makes sense to keep Giuliani's message as nonpartisan as possible."

Democrats say the latest appearance is part of a concerted effort to help Republicans such as Simon bask in Giuliani's post-Sept. 11 glow.

"The use of Rudy Giuliani, who is truly a national hero . . . to introduce an unknown like Bill Simon was a very effective move, but now they're in danger of having people say, 'Why doesn't Bill Simon stand on his own two feet?' " said Garry South, political strategist for Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

Such talk is vehemently rejected by Steve Schmidt, head of the Republican congressional campaign committee, who said Democrats were launching "scurrilous attacks" on Giuliani.

FUND-RAISING APPEARANCES

"Mayor Giuliani is doing fund-raising appearances for Republicans across the country. . . . Rudy and President Bush are the two most popular political figures in the country," Schmidt said. "You couldn't have a better guy out there helping you campaign."

Davis' camp is raising the issue only because "Mayor Giuliani presents such a stark contrast to Gray Davis," Schmidt said. "Giuliani was a great leader; Gray Davis is a bad leader. Giuliani is principled; Gray Davis is a guy who will say and do anything to get elected."

Walker says that beyond the political concerns, Giuliani will have to worry about the effects of these appearances on his personal effectiveness.

"There's a certain element that will always say Giuliani can do no wrong, and anyone who criticizes him is on Osama bin Laden's side," Walker said. "But he has to be very careful about wearing himself thin. Right now, he's the gold standard of political credibility. But you have to wonder whether six months from now -- will we see him on late night television, hawking 9/11 coins?"

E-mail Carla Marinucci at cmarinucci@sfchronicle.com.

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