Clinton a hero, Giuliani a no-show for firefighters

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Firefighters, hailed as heroes on September 11, cheered Hillary Rodham Clinton when they gathered on Wednesday to size up U.S. presidential contenders minus Rudolph Giuliani.

Clinton, a 59-year-old Democratic senator from New York, and Giuliani, the 62-year-old former Republican mayor who led New York City during the attacks, are front-runners in polls months before the November 2008 vote.

Clinton and Illinois Democrat Sen. Barack Obama were among the 10 presidential candidates who spoke from the two parties; Giuliani said he was busy.

On a stage flanked by photos of the World Trade Center devastation, Clinton evoked memories of those days, telling the cheering International Association of Firefighters: "You were there when we needed you."

Giuliani angered the 280,000-member union when he cut off efforts to recover the remains of September 11 victims before all had been found.

IAFF President Harold Schaitberger said Giuliani's actions were "so egregious" that union leaders debated whether to invite him, although they ultimately did.

Earlier this week, Giuliani said "the firefighters are my heroes," but unions had political agendas. He cited scheduling conflicts as his reason for missing the event.

"In some ways, the foundation of his entire candidacy is on the back of 9/11, and I view that as a pretty shaky foundation," Schaitberger said of Giuliani.