Giuliani Courts Top Party Operatives

CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) — Ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is quietly working to hire political operatives in the crucial primary state of New Hampshire for a possible presidential bid.

That's according to several people with direct knowledge of the effort. They are telling The Associated Press that representatives for Giuliani have contacted veteran New Hampshire campaign strategists in recent days about joining a Giuliani campaign. These people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to disclose the information.

They say that Giuliani's team worries that Texas Gov. Rick Perry's all-but-certain campaign could scoop up the few remaining top operatives in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

One key Giuliani supporter says he hasn't yet decided whether to run.

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Fouhy reported from New York.