New York’s Republican Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has announced his withdrawal from this year’s Senate contest against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

After some weeks of indecision following the announcement that he has prostate cancer and that he is separating from his wife, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani finally confirmed what most political observers had been predicting.

The Republican Party is now most likely to endorse Congressman Rick Lazio, the member for New York’s Second District in the House of Representatives.

Transcript of Giuliani’s Press Conference announcing his withdrawal from the New York Senate race against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

GUILIANI: Thank you very, very much. I’m a very fortunate man and this is one demonstration of why I’m a very fortunate man. God has given me a lot and whatever obstacles that are placed in your way, I think the way to deal with it is to try to figure out how to make it, make it make you a better person. The reason I’m such a fortunate man is that I have people that love me and I love them and they care for me and I care for them. And that’s the greatest support that you can have in life. And I think I’m fortunate because I probably have a few more people like that. Governor Pataki told me once a long time ago that your real friends are the friends that will love and care about you after you’re the mayor, the governor, the senator or the president. And I have some friends like that. And I’m a very fortunate man. So whatever I decide, and I’m going to tell you what I decided, I feel very, very lucky. [Read more…]