RUDY'S ARMY A GRANITE WALL
  • a group of about 30 die-hard Giuliani supporters of all ages and backgrounds [have] already made two Saturday pilgrimages north - and they've pledged to do the eight-hour round-trip haul every Saturday between now and the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary.

    Their efforts are a crucial part of the Giuliani campaign's plan to scratch back in the Granite State - the back yard of his GOP rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has spent $6 million to date plastering the region with ads.

    According to the latest polls, Romney leads in the state among Republicans with 33 percent of the vote, while John McCain and Giuliani are battling for second, with 18 and 16 percent, respectively.

    But as of last week, Giuliani has gone on the attack, hoping to upend Romney with a late surge and to hold off McCain, who took the state from George W. Bush in 2000 by 19 points.

    A strong New Hampshire showing on Jan. 8 will solidify Giuliani as the front-runner for the Jan. 29 Florida primary, his strategists hope, and build momentum for him as Feb. 5 approaches. New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois and about 20 other states hold primaries that day.

    And that's why this Team Rudy is so important.

    The volunteers will knock on doors at the homes of registered Republicans and - the big prize among New Hampshire voters - registered independents.

    Next weekend, the volunteers will line up at 7 a.m. all over again, ready for another day in New Hampshire.