CNN and MSNBC on "America's Mayor"

During the 2 p.m. ET hour of the February 5 edition of MSNBC News Live, host Chris Jansing reported the news that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is "expected to file a statement of candidacy" for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and stated: "Of course, [Giuliani] became known as 'America's Mayor' after 9-11." Similarly, during the 3 p.m. ET hour of the show, New York Daily News senior correspondent David Saltonstall told host Contessa Brewer that Giuliani is a "rock star" outside the Northeast because "he's still 'America's Mayor.' You know, he's the hero of 9-11."

Later, on the February 5 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, host Wolf Blitzer also designated Giuliani "America's Mayor": "Coming up, the man known as 'America's Mayor' takes another step toward running for the White House. We're going to tell you what Rudy Giuliani did today -- in the past few hours." Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted (here, here, here, here, and here) that media figures have touted Giuliani's reputation as "America's Mayor" despite the numerous controversies marking Giuliani's political career.

From 2 p.m. ET hour of the February 5 edition of MSNBC's MSNBC News Live:

JANSING: We are also getting word from the Associated Press that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected to file a statement of candidacy in the presidential race. A statement of candidacy for the former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Of course, he became known as "America's Mayor" after 9-11 and is considered one of the superstars of the Republican Party, somebody who could have a significant impact on how the 2008 presidential race unfolds. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani expected to file his statement of candidacy in the presidential race.

From the 3 p.m ET hour of the February 5 edition of MSNBC's MSNBC News Live:

BREWER: I know that he's been crisscrossing the country, meeting and greeting folks, and doing all the handshaking. What kind of a response does he get in places outside of the Northeast?

SALTONSTALL: He's a rock star in most of these places because he's still "America's Mayor." You know, he's the hero of 9-11. So he gets standing ovations in places like New Hampshire and South Carolina, and I suspect he'll get one in California this weekend when he addresses the Republican state convention out there.

From the 4 p.m. ET hour of the February 5 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

BLITZER: Coming up, the man known as "America's Mayor" takes another step toward running for the White House. We're going to tell you what Rudy Giuliani did today -- in the past few hours.

—A.I. & B.J.L.