Naples, FL — The International Association of Fire Fighters sent out their first direct mail to Florida voters today attacking Rudy Giuliani’s judgment and pre/post 911 leadership.

In the mailer, they declare: “Rudy Giuliani isn’t qualified to be President. he shamelessly uses the events of 9/11 for his own political gain. The truth is, Giuliani used poor judgment leading up to and on the day of the attacks. He was unprepared to protect New York, and he is unprepared to lead our country.”

The mailer–which includes a photo of Giuliani’s back turned–specifically targets the former New York City mayor for showing “bad judgment” and hiring “unqualified yes-men” and includes a testimonial quote from the father of a firefighter who died on 9/11 who calls Rudy a “coward.”

The piece targets 178,000 Republican women between the ages of 40 and 80 (security moms), according to IAFF President Harold Schaitberger. IAFF members have been protesting Giuliani at several of his Florida events during the last few weeks.

The IAFF–a union that includes 288,000 members—leans Democrat and endorsed Chris Dodd for president last year. In 2004 they endorsed John Kerry. Even so, Schaitberger says that the IAFF has only historically promoted their candidate and has rarely run a campaign opposing others.

“This is very unusual and rare for us. We have a history of supporting candidates, not opposing them,” he said in a phone interview. “But Giuliani’s actions in our view were so egregious that we decided this is in one of the times we had to go after somebody.”

The IAFF has been waiting for Rudy in Florida for a few months and Schaitberger said, “we will be dogging him till the 29th.”

Update: Giuliani campaign responds…

“I’m supporting Rudy Giuliani because of the things he’s done. Jim Riches and IAFF do not speak for me or for all firefighters. Firefighters from across the country are supporting Rudy Giuliani for all the things he has done to advocate for firemen and first responders and that he will do for us as President of the United States.” –campaign national firefighter chair, Larry Peterson. (Also a division chief with the Jacksonville Fire Department.)

See jump for other side direct mailer:

(more…)