Sen. John McCain — a staunch supporter of Rudy Giuliani — yesterday stuck his foot in his mouth by saying Hillary Rodham Clinton would be a “star” in the Senate if she beats the mayor.
“She would be a star of the quality that has not been seen in the Senate since Bobby Kennedy was elected senator from the state of New York,” McCain told students at Columbia University.
The straight-talking McCain’s unexpected praise for Clinton was a shocker, because he is appearing in a statewide Giuliani commercial and stumping with the mayor, most recently on Sunday.
McCain later sought to clarify his remarks, telling reporters, “I’m fully supportive of Mayor Giuliani.
“I believe [Clinton] would be very liberal,” the Arizona Republican added. “I don’t believe she’d be good for the country.”
The Massachusetts-born Kennedy — who, like Clinton, was attacked by critics as a carpetbagger when he ran in New York — was elected in 1964, and the first lady has been studying his winning strategy.
The Clinton campaign couldn’t resist taking a dig at McCain.
“Hillary appreciates the kind comparison to Bobby Kennedy, and looks forward to working with John McCain on tobacco and other issues in the Senate,” said Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson.
Giuliani shrugged off McCain’s comments.
“You can be a star for the wrong reasons, right?” Giuliani asked, laughing.
“I think what [McCain] is saying … is that she would immediately be a presidential contender and … that she would essentially become a very, very strong advocate for many, many left-wing causes.”
Until yesterday, the beleaguered Giuliani campaign had been thrilled by voters’ response to McCain — who appeals to independents, Democrats and women — and aides said they had doubled the statewide advertising blitz featuring the McCain-Giuliani “bus-ride” commercial.
Meanwhile, at a Women for Giuliani rally earlier in Manhattan, a supporter drew enthusiastic applause when she urged the mayor to let voters see his “softer, gentler side.”
“Show your softer, gentler side, the side that we all know … and I guarantee you’ll be the next senator,” said Beverly Copeland, an assistant commissioner at the city Department of Administrative Services.
The audience of 250 women broke out in loud applause and cheers, leaving Giuliani almost speechless.
“I’m going to resist the impulse to make a joke,” the mayor said.
In another development, Liberal Party boss and Giuliani pal Ray Harding said the mayor, as expected, will seek the party’s ballot line — a move that could cost Giuliani the support of the Conservative Party.
“He would be on the same lines as Al Gore, George W. Bush, and possibly Pat Buchanan,” said Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, referring to the Democratic, Republican and Independence lines.
“What does that say about someone who would run like that?”