In a September 3 Politico article, senior political writer Jonathan Martin, who covers the Republican candidates for the Politico, wrote that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) “still enjoys the halo of Sept. 11 and the celebrity that comes with the heroics” -- which Martin said explains “in part” why Giuliani has not “stopped being 'America's Mayor' ” and become “just another presidential candidate.” But in touting Giuliani's “halo of Sept. 11” and his alleged “heroics,” Martin offered no indication that, as Media Matters for America has noted, Giuliani's performance before, during, and after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has been questioned and criticized.

In the article, Martin and senior political writer Ben Smith purported to offer “the 10 key questions you need to focus on in order to get back up to speed quickly” regarding the 2008 presidential campaign. In a September 4 blog entry, Martin acknowledged that the five questions pertaining to the Republican candidates were "[m]y analysis of the GOP side." Martin wrote:

Will Rudy's lead hold when he comes under attack? Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani enjoys a lead in every national poll taken in the GOP race and is also strong in surveys taken in such key primary states as Florida and South Carolina.

The long-anticipated swoon that Giuliani was expected to suffer when he stopped being “America's Mayor” and became just another presidential candidate simply hasn't happened. In part, this is because he still enjoys the halo of Sept. 11 and the celebrity that comes with the heroics.

But can he maintain his strong position when the attacks come not in the form of whispered background quotes, but rather frontal assaults on the television and radio airwaves? And they are sure to come.

As Media Matters documented (here and here), New York City's firefighters have been critical of Giuliani for what they see as his failure to ensure that the New York police and fire departments had interoperable radios -- a problem that had been highlighted during the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and during a 1995 sarin-gas drill conducted by New York City officials.

Giuliani has also been criticized for selecting The 7 World Trade Center building as the site of his emergency command center, reportedly because the location was within walking distance from City Hall. An August 7 Village Voice article reported that, prior to establishing the command center, Giuliani was warned that the World Trade Center would likely be the prime target for future terrorist attacks. 7 World Trade Center was destroyed during the 9-11 attacks.

On August 9, Giuliani claimed that he “was at Ground Zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers” participating in the hazardous clean-up. Giuliani later attempted to clarify his remarks, saying, “I think I could have said it better. ... You know, what I was saying was, 'I'm there with you.' ” The New York Times reported on August 17 that “for the period of Sept. 17 to Dec. 16, 2001,” Giuliani spent “a total of 29 hours” at the WTC ruins “often for short periods or to visit locations adjacent to the rubble.” The Times added that, "[i]n that same period, many rescue and recovery workers put in daily 12-hour shifts."