Giuliani hires former N.H. GOP chair

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has recruited veteran Republican activist Wayne Semprini to lead his New Hampshire operations.

Giuliani, who is mulling a White House run, announced the appointment Monday, following his weekend visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state.

"We picked up a lot of supporters this weekend," Semprini said.

Semprini, who until Saturday was the state Republican Party chairman, has been involved in New Hampshire politics since 1972.

Giuliani has formed an exploratory committee, the first step toward a full presidential campaign. During his visit this weekend, he would not say when he would make a final decision, although his speeches at Bretton Woods and Manchester were campaign-style addresses.

"It appears to me that Mayor Giuliani is not a guy who does anything part way. He's someone who is very, very thorough," Semprini said. "I don't think he'll make his total announcement until he's had an opportunity to look at all those angles and share all those angles with his wife, Judith."

Judith Giuliani accompanied her husband to New Hampshire, his first trip to the state since forming his exploratory committee.

Giuliani has hired other key staff in New Hampshire, including veteran GOP activist David Tille as his political director. Chris Wood, a veteran of Steve Forbes' and Pat Buchanan's campaigns, will lead coalition building.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070129/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail [link]