Giuliani Discusses Republican Race

(NewsCore) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani suggested Sunday that the Republican primary race needs "one conservative candidate" that offers a contrast to frontrunner Mitt Romney, although he declined to say whether Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum should drop out of the race.

"If it were just one conservative candidate, if Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich could agree somehow -- toss a coin or have a good discussion -- I think it would be a much more interesting race," Giuliani said during an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation."

But when asked by host Bob Schieffer if he believes Santorum "ought to excuse himself," Giuliani demurred.

"Well, I don't know. I can't decide for either one of them who would be the better candidate. They both have arguments that they're better candidates," he said. "But you're not getting a true picture of what the opposition to Governor Romney is because [the conservative vote is] split."

Giuliani did, however, say he believes Gingrich's tax plan is "bolder" and "better" than Romney's plan.

"Newt is much more willing to make dramatic changes in the way the government operates," he said.

While Giuliani said he had "very high regard" for all the Republican candidates, including Romney, he saved his most critical words for the former Massachusetts governor.

"He has changed his position virtually on everything," he said of Romney. "He was a traditional moderate Republican, strong on fiscal matters, conservative, strong on foreign policy, but basically socially moderate. He changed all that."

"All those changes in positions give me pause," he added.

Giuliani noted, however, that he will support Romney if he is the nominee, saying the Republican candidate is "so much better than President [Barack] Obama on the economy, on national security."

The former mayor, who has supported gay rights and abortion rights, also said he is not sorry he did not enter the Republican presidential race himself, saying that he "wouldn't have had a chance" of success in the more conservative primary states.

"They would like me on economics. They would like me on national security, but they couldn't wouldn't like me on my social views. And I'm not about to change them. They are very much with me."