Giuliani stumps for Blunt's gubernatorial campaign

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Deflecting criticism that 33-year-old Matt Blunt is too inexperienced to be Missouri governor, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday his fellow Republican has more experience than Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards.

Both Blunt and Edwards have held elected offices for about six years -- the 51-year-old Edwards as a one-term senator from North Carolina, Blunt as a single-term state representative and one-term secretary of state.

Speaking at a Blunt rally in Columbia, Giuliani said Blunt has "the right blend of experience," because he also worked in private business and served as a Navy officer. It's "absurd" to suggest Blunt is inexperienced, Giuliani declared as Blunt nodded and beamed.

Blunt is opposed by Democrat State Auditor Claire McCaskill, 51.

McCaskill served three terms as a state representative, one term as a Jackson County legislator, two terms as Jackson County prosecutor and is serving her second term as state auditor. In speeches and advertising, she questions whether Blunt has adequate experience to be governor.

McCaskill spokesman Glenn Campbell said of Giuliani's comparison of Blunt and Edwards: "Matt Blunt is 33 years old and just barely a decade removed from college. While Edwards and Blunt both look young, there is a clear difference in experience."

Grounded from flying because of bad weather, McCaskill drove west from St. Louis on Wednesday to campaign events in Franklin County, Warrensburg and Kansas City. She also conducted telephone interviews with radio stations as she traveled.

"I am out traveling on these bad Missouri roads and talking directly to people," McCaskill said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

She scoffed at Blunt campaigning alongside Giuliani. "I have had offers to have Democratic governors and other big names come in to stump for me, but I think it's more important that voters hear from me than these surrogates," McCaskill said.

It was Giuliani's second Missouri trip to help Blunt. They raised money and shared stages Wednesday in Springfield, Columbia and St. Louis, with organizers hoping Giuliani's stature after the Sept. 11 attacks would shine onto Blunt, although Giuliani acknowledged to reporters that he and Blunt disagree on some social issues.

For example, Giuliani is considered a moderate Republican by New York standards, supporting gay rights, gun regulation and abortion rights. Blunt's backers promote his conservatism, his opposition to most abortions and his support for the recently approved state constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.

But Giuliani, who left the mayor's office in 2002, said he and Blunt are "united around the big principles," including tort reform, fighting crime and defending the nation.

McCaskill said Blunt was apparently willing to downplay his differences with the former mayor "to bask in Giuliani's spotlight."

"It's ironic Matt Blunt is trying to convince Missourians I don't have their values on social issues when, for example, Rudy Giuliani has a much more liberal view than I do on gay marriage," McCaskill said.

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On the Net:

Blunt: http://www.mattblunt.com

McCaskill: http://www.claireonline.com