Sen. Bond poised to endorse Giuliani

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Missouri Sen. Kit Bond plans to endorse former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president, Bond's office said late Thurdsay.

Bond, a four-term Republican, will make the announcement Friday morning at a Washington news conference with Giuliani.

"Senator Bond believes that Mayor Giuliani has the record of executive leadership we need to move our country forward," said Jason Van Eaton, Bond's deputy chief of staff.

The announcement is the second major endorsement for Giuliani in Missouri. Last week, Missouri congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson said she was backing Giuliani despite her differences with him over abortion rights, gun control and other issues.

Bond will be one of four national co-chairmen of Giulani's campaign and serve as general chairman of Giuliani's campaign in Missouri. Emerson said she will be chairwoman of Giuliani's campaign in the state.

Bond also has arranged for two of his key staff members -- Van Eaton and Matt Roney -- to provide assistance to Giuliani's Missouri campaign. Both staffers will tranfer to Bond's political team next month.

The support for Giluiani from Bond and Emerson is another sign of split loyalties among top Republicans in the state. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has been a prominent supporter of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president, while Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is backing Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator.