Guiliani Back on as Keynote Speaker ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA (WXXI) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani confirmed that he's once again on the schedule as the keynote speaker for the convention on Wednesday night. Giuliani has been making the rounds to delegates, talking up McCain.

Giuliani says he's still writing his address to the convention, set now for a Wednesday evening prime time slot, but predicts that the Republicans will start revving up the rhetoric as the event finally gets underway.

The former Mayor has been speaking to various state delegations, including an appearance before Missouri Republicans. Giuliani says what he likes most about McCain is his maverick independence, and ability to make quick decisions, like postponing the start of the convention in the face of the storm.

"That was a very difficult decision that he made quickly," said Giuliani. "Most other political candidates would have agonized over that for weeks."

In a speech to the Missouri delegates, Giuliani focused on what he says is McCain's superior expertise in foreign policy, and his support for the troop surge in Iraq, which he says has worked.

The former New York City Mayor also spoke highly of the Vice Presidential choice, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Giuliani, a former prosecutor, says he admired the way she "took on corruption in the Republican Party in Alaska in a way no one else had ever done before".

"She has already shook up Alaska," said Giuliani. "With John McCain , I'm looking forward to the way they're going to shake up Washington."
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