Giuliani opens Michigan office.

Giuliani opens Michigan office
Encouraged by strong state polling, ex-N.Y. mayor may target Romney.
Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may be preparing to take on Michigan native Mitt Romney in his home state, trying to build on solid polling numbers with a growing on-the-ground effort in the state's Republican presidential primary.
Giuliani's campaign has opened a Michigan headquarters in Bloomfield Hills; is preparing to add a third paid staffer after making its first Michigan hire last month; is lining up local campaign chairs in some congressional districts; and is planning Michigan fundraiser events after a solid third-quarter financial effort in Michigan.
"Mayor Giuliani's executive experience and leadership in turning around an economy make him a natural fit for Michigan voters, so we are committed to competing for Michigan's delegates," said spokesman Jeffrey Barker. And Barker argued Giuliani is the only GOP candidate who could win Michigan in a general election -- a notion Romney would dispute.
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The moves may signal an effort to reverse what has been a huge advantage in on-the-ground organization for Romney and for John McCain, the two candidates who have spent the most time in Michigan so far this year.
Romney has had a Michigan headquarters for months, endorsements from four of the state's nine GOP members of Congress and more than $2 million in Michigan donations, twice any other candidate's total. He described Michigan's economic crisis as an issue he takes personally.
McCain, the upset winner in Michigan's 2000 primary, is second in Michigan money raised and has the backing of top party activists. Despite cutbacks earlier in the year, his campaign said he is adding staffers in Michigan.
Giuliani won't be able to match Romney's ground game in Michigan but needs some organization to take advantage of polling figures that put him in or near the lead in the state, said Michigan pollster and analyst Steve Mitchell.
"The fact that they're beginning to ramp up is an indication that they do feel Michigan can be competitive," Mitchell said.
Rival campaigns downplayed Giuliani's efforts.
"It seems that they lost their arrogance after losing to Ron Paul in the Mackinac Straw Poll and realized that a pro-choice, pro-gay rights, anti-gun liberal from New York wasn't going to be able to continue to ignore Michigan voters," said Chuck Yob, a Republican National Committee member and McCain supporter.
Mitchell said Giuliani has an advantage in the support of Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, his only backer in the Michigan congressional delegation.
"Candice Miller is a very good organizer," he said.
"She has a very strong political organization in Macomb County, with the second-most Republican votes in the state."
Still, it's unclear just how strong an effort Giuliani will make in Michigan. Despite polling high in Michigan, his campaign has made little secret of its focus on Florida's Jan. 29 contest and the several large states voting on Feb. 5.
Michigan may be a spot where Giuliani can force Romney to concentrate resources he'd rather spend elsewhere. It could be a spot to peel off a small number of nominating delegates.
Or, Mitchell suggested, it could be a place for Giuliani to blunt Romney's momentum. Romney is considered the front-runner in kickoff states Iowa and New Hampshire; if he wins those two, Giuliani may have no choice but to try to stop him in Michigan.
"If he could stop (Romney) in Michigan, Rudy could say he slew the giant in his home state," Mitchell said.