Giuliani Airs 12-Point Platform
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Declaring "These are the 12 things that I believe will change the way we look at this campaign," Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani last week laid out a mission of reform and change "which will take this country back to the 1990s".

Included among the items he ticked off before a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, the first-in-thenation primary state, were a promise to keep America on the offensive in the anti-terror war, to end illegal immigration, to give Americans more control over health care and to cut taxes and cut "wasteful" Washington spending.

The promises were made as a Los Angeles poll found unannounced candidate Fred Thompson creeping up on New York's ex-mayor.

The Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll also found United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton still comfortably leading the Democratic pack of candidates.

Giuliani led Thompson by 27 to 21 percent with U.S. Senator John McCain dropping from second to third place with 12 percent and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 10 percent.

Among the Dems, Clinton led by 33 percent, Illinois Senator Barack Obama had 22 percent, former Vice President Al Gore scored 15 percent, even though he's unannounced or not running, and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards trailed with 8 percent.

The results of the poll were in line with the L.A. Times/Bloomberg survey in April.

Another plus for frontrunner Clinton last week was a key endorsement from movie mogul and prize-winning director Steven Spielberg. The endorsement was a significant victory for Clinton in her War to Win the West against Obama. The latter had made inroads against Clinton when he opened his campaign, but Spielberg's move allowed Clinton to regain her luster in the Hollywood front.

In New Hampshire, Giuliani was in a feisty mood as he declared, "We are going to lay out a vision of doing what other people think is impossible."

It appeared that, although his frontrunner status has not been challenged or disturbed, he was turning the campaign up a notch to make sure none of his opponents would get any traction against him.

The entire list of commitments are as follows: 1. I will keep America on offense in the terrorists' war on us. 2. I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders and identify every noncitizen in our nation. 3. I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending. 4. I will cut taxes and reform the tax code. 5. I will impose accountability on Washington.

6. I will lead America toward energy independence.

7. I will give Americans more control over, and access to, health care with affordable and portable free-market solutions.

8. I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions and protect the quality of life for our children.

9. I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.

10. I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

11. I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.

12. I will expand America's involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.