Draft Rudy for Prez, is their cry

    Two Chicago political operatives who think Rudy Giuliani should be running the country started a campaign yesterday to turn America's Mayor into America's President.

    "Draft Rudy Giuliani for President" filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission allowing them to raise money to form a national organization.

    "We think he's the strongest candidate in fall of 2008," said former Illinois GOP chairman Allen Fore, who aims to have signed up coordinators in all 50 states by May.

    "This whole effort is to show him the broad base of support that there is out there. We hope that will be a factor in his decision."

    Polls show that if voters had their choice right now, the 2008 race would be an all-New York blockbuster cage match between Giuliani and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton - and he would win.

    Giuliani said recently that it's too early to decide whether to run in 2008, but he did add, "I think I'll return to politics."

    His spokeswoman Sunny Mindel had a terse "no comment" when asked about the Draft Rudy movement.

    Fore brushed off the idea that Giuliani's positions on abortion, gay rights and gun control would turn off conservative GOP primary voters.

    "Leadership is going to be the primary issue in this coming election," he said. "What Rudy showed us after 9/11 got him unbelievable broad public support. He transcends a lot of issues."

    Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain are easily the most popular Republicans nationally, but Giuliani blows McCain away among GOP voters.