Rudy Giuliani Decides Against Running for Senate

Former New York City mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will not challenge rookie Kirsten Gillibrand for New York's junior senator seat, the New York Times reports. Gillibrand was appointed less than a year ago to the seat held by now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and trails Giuliani in various polls, fueling speculation that the former mayor might enter the Republican primary if he sensed an easy victory.

Giuliani also recently waved off speculation about a gubernatorial run, and now says he plans to endorse Rick Lazio. Friends say that Giuliani's business interests, which include motivational speaking and the consulting firm Giuliani Partners, suffer when he is running for office. He also has strained relations with Edward Cox, New York's new Republican Party chairman, which could also have contributed to his reluctance to enter a high-profile race.