Rudy Giuliani cited his love for Israel and the Jewish roots of Christianity in appealing to evangelical Christians for support. In an address this week to the Christian Family Research Council, the former New York City mayor noted that Israel "is one of our most faithful allies [and] ... is the birthplace of a religion that gave us the teachings of the Bible, that gave us the teachings of the prophets of old and the revelations of the word of God."     

Giuliani currently is the front-runner for the Republican nomination but faces stiff competition towards next summer's party convention. American President George W. Bush is not eligible to run again because he has served the limit of two consecutive terms of office.