On the January 25 edition of MSNBC Live, host and NBC News Sunday White House correspondent Kevin Corke asked former New York Rep. Susan Molinari (R), a senior adviser to Republican presidential candidate and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani: “I'm just wondering ... I know what you're going to say, but I'm going to ask you anyway -- if the campaign made a miscalculation by forgoing the early voting states.” Corke later followed up on Molinari's reply, falsely suggesting that Giuliani did not compete in the early states. He asked Molinari: “Why on Earth would you more or less shelve him and keep him out of all these early contests? I think he could have been competitive along the way and maybe building up to this point as opposed to just getting in now. Do you see why people have that criticism?” In fact, as Matters for America has repeatedly documented (here, here, here, here, here, and here), Giuliani spent considerable time and money competing in Iowa and New Hampshire.

During the interview, Corke said of Giuliani: “I don't think there's a person who could meet the guy and look at his record in New York City and not believe that, 'You know what? Like him or not, he's done some good things. He's a likeable personality.' ”

From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the January 25 edition of MSNBC Live:

CORKE: Susan Molinari is Giuliani's senior adviser, and she's a former Republican congresswoman from New York. You know, Susan, I love jousting with you because you have that “can do” spirit. I'm just wondering if you still got it. I mean, look, despite his optimism, his numbers in Florida have fallen by nearly 20 points in two months, even though he's been campaigning there for weeks. I'm just wondering, do -- I know what you're going to say, but I'm going to ask you anyway -- if the campaign made a miscalculation by forgoing the early voting states.

MOLINARI: You know what? I think we're going to see next Tuesday, and I believe in this so strongly. And I'm actually getting on a plane, and I'm going to join this bus tour starting tomorrow through the end of this campaign in Florida because yes, “can do” is what Rudy Giuliani is all about. I've known this man for over 20 years. When he sets his sights and his determinations and his plan and his strategy, Rudy Giuliani accomplishes. He accomplishes, you know, in New York City. He accomplished after 9-11. He accomplished in business, and he has worked Florida like no other candidate.

Now, I know that's not showing up in the polls, but let me tell you where it is showing up. Every place he goes, 1,000, 1,200, 1,500 people are out waiting to hear Rudy Giuliani because they believe in his message of cutting taxes -- the most aggressive tax-cut package for an economic stimulus that anybody's talked about in either political party -- about strengthening our military. With the heart of that revival happening in Florida, he's the one the candidate that is talking about and put together an advisory committee on national catastrophic fund for the people of Florida and throughout the nation, but something that really goes to the heart of Floridians.

Health care, dealing with child predators -- Rudy has been on the ground for many months while others have been campaigning hard in other states prior to Florida, and I am positive that this Tuesday, those men and women throughout Florida who the campaign has seen on the ground, are going to come out and vote for Rudy and be the wind at his back as we go into Super Duper Tuesday.

CORKE: But see, this is what I don't get, because I've known the mayor for a while. I don't think there's a person who could meet the guy and look at his record in New York City and not believe that, “You know what? Like him or not, he's done some good things. He's a likeable personality.” Why on Earth would you more or less shelve him and keep him out of all these early contests? I think he could have been competitive along the way and maybe building up to this point as opposed to just getting in now. Do you see why people have that criticism?

MOLINARI: Yeah, you know, I do understand why people have that criticism because I do believe that Rudy sells no matter where he goes. I think that, you know, any state, because of his message of competency and leadership, is appealing to anybody who wants to make sure that this is nation is as strong and as tough as it needs to be as we enter some very uncertain times both on the war on terror and economically.

But let me do say, the way this calendar has worked, you need an immense amount of resources that really is not available to anybody other than those who can self-fund, and the Giuliani campaign just decided this was going to be where our strength was because these are the people who understand Rudy Giuliani, and quite frankly, these are the people that Rudy Giuliani understands. And so, I know you say that today, but if you see the spirit and the message and the connection that he's making in Florida with these voters, they're going to repay him on Tuesday because the people in Florida know Rudy Giuliani can and should be the next president, and once he wins in Florida, this is going to be a whole different interview on Wednesday the 30th, isn't it?

CORKE: Absolutely. No question about that. As I said last time we chatted, we're looking for that Dewey-Truman headline. We're going to call you “Can Do Susan.” Susan Molinari, joining us today. As always, we appreciate your time.

MOLINARI: Oh, it's a pleasure.

CORKE: We'll talk to you on Wednesday, I promise.