Giuliani Campaign's Top Fundraiser Out
Sep 26, 9:15 PM (ET)

By LIBBY QUAID

(AP) Presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, meets with Iraqi President...

NeW YORK (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's top finance official is out in a staff shake-up just days before the fundraising deadline for the White House hopefuls.

Anne Dunsmore, deputy campaign manager for finance, has left the operation. Giuliani aides said the departure was unrelated to fundraising. The third-quarter deadline for all campaigns, Republican and Democrat, is Sunday.

"Anne Dunsmore is no longer working on our campaign. We thank Anne for her service and the departure is amicable," Katie Levinson, communications director for the campaign, said Wednesday.

Republican fundraiser Jim Lee will now serve as national co-chair and head the finance operation, with day-to-day responsibility for all fundraising operations.


(AP) Presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, meets with Iraqi President...
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In a statement, Dunsmore said: "I continue to believe Rudy Giuliani is the strongest candidate in the race and I strongly support him for president."

Giuliani aides said Dunsmore left over differences in strategy more than anything else. Dunsmore is based in Los Angeles and headed President Bush's California fundraising in 2000 and 2004.

Giuliani was raising money Wednesday in New Jersey, at a fundraiser for Somerset County Republicans and at a house party where givers were being asked for $500 per person. Polls show Giuliani leading the Republican field in New Jersey.

Giuliani said fundraising was strong.

"We'll have a very good quarter, probably the best of the Republicans," Giuliani told reporters before the Somerset County event.


(AP) Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani talks with media as he arrives to address supporters...
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In the first six months of the year, Giuliani raised more than $33 million, second to Republican rival Mitt Romney, with more than $34 million. Both candidates were ahead of rival John McCain, who brought in more than $24 million.

Giuliani also addressed criticism over a California house party fundraiser where attendees are being asked for $9.11 per person, saying the decision to do so was "unfortunate."

"I think they made a mistake," Giuliani said.

Earlier in the day, Giuliani met privately with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and indicated he would keep a U.S. presence in Iraq for as long as necessary, campaign aides said.

The former New York mayor is one of the few GOP candidates who has never been to Iraq. Talabani, in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, provided what Giuliani aides described as an optimistic report about progress in the region during the meeting.

Giuliani, in turn, emphasized his support for a unified Iraq and indicated that he would keep a U.S. presence in that country for as long as necessary, aides said.

The Republican front-runner in national polls has long backed the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq as well as this year's troop buildup. He often answers questions about the war by deferring to military commanders and has waded less into the specifics of how he would handle the conflict if he were to win the presidency.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070927/D8RTG97G0.html