Draft Gore 2008 PAC

Source: NJ's Hotline

Tonight, associates of Rudy Giuliani released two statements in response to reports that the former New York City mayor had established a New York state committee to explore a presidential run.

Rudy has traveled the country campaigning tirelessly on behalf of Republican candidates and has had the opportunity to speak with Americans on a wide variety of issues. They have been encouraging him to run for President, and this filing affords him the opportunity to raise money and put together an organization to assist him in making his decision.

And from committee treasurer John Gross:

Mayor Giuliani has not made a decision yet. With the filing of this document, we have taken the necessary legal steps so an organization can be put in place and money can be raised to explore a possible presidential run in 2008.

The FEC considers his New York committee a "testing the waters" committee.

So what equipment can Rudy use to test the waters? What proportion of his leg can he dip in? According to the FEC, he can poll, pay for telephone calls, pay for travel for himself and his staff, hire staff for specific "testing the waters" activities, keep a databse of potential donors and supporters, pay for office space, stationary, biographical brochures, and raise money ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF said waters testing.

What you can't do: advertise your candidacy, raise money in order to transfer it to a real presidential candidate, refer to yourself as a real candidate, raise money to get your name on a ballot... and spend too much time testing the waters.

A 1986 committee run by associates of Pat Roberston used test-in-the-waters money to accumulate $2.4 million for his real presidential bid. So Mr. Giuliani will have to be careful. [MARC AMBINDER]

Posted at 07:18 PM