As mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani was well known before 9/11, but his response to the attacks cemented his reputation as a leader. On the basis of what he did on that eventful day he is seeking the presidency of the US, which is why criticism of him from union leaders and relatives of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center will severely damage his political standing.
The firefighters of 9/11 are heroes to Americans; 343 perished doing their duty that day. Those who speak in their names carry immense moral weight and they are targeting Giuliani's strongest asset, his reputation. The firefighters blame Giuliani for faulty radios which prevented the workers from hearing commands to evacuate the towers before they collapsed and of indecent haste in his clean-up of Ground Zero.
There have been allegations that the Democrats are behind this smear. Politics being politics, they may be, but this is more than just the cut and thrust of a campaign. Unless Giuliani can respond forcefully and answer the charges against him he will have little chance of securing the Republican nomination. For the first time Giuliani must defend his record of leadership and explain what he did on 9/11.
