Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has taken fire for playing up his role as New York mayor during the Sept. 11 attacks. Now he’s facing criticism for a pitch for $9.11 to attend a California fund raiser on Wednesday.
 
Giuliani adviser and former Reagan administration official Abraham Sofaer will host a fundraising house party on Wednesday in California and two volunteers he invited sent out their own pitch for $9.11 donations.
  
“These are two volunteers who acted independently of and without the knowledge of the campaign,” said Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella. “Their decision to ask individuals for that amount was an unfortunate choice.”
  
Giuliani has repeatedly touted on the campaign trail his experience dealing with the Sept. 11 attacks as mayor of New York City, drawing some criticism from victims’ families that he has been exploiting them and the attacks to win the White House.
 
Giuliani will address so-called “house parties” on Wednesday via Webcast, an effort to draw in new contributors ahead of the upcoming Sept. 30 quarterly fundraising deadline.
 
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut called on Giuliani to reject or return any money raised from the pitch.

– Photo credit: Jim Bourg