(((Video shows questions posed by Richard Florino on Saturday and then Sunday.)))

Windham, NH– During his two-day bus tour through New Hampshire this weekend, a familiar face kept popping up at Rudy Giuliani campaign events throwing friendly questions in the candidate’s direction.

Richard Florino, 52, a Giuliani volunteer and his Windham County, New Hampshire co-chairman was called upon by the former New York City mayor to ask the first question at two forums on back to back days–first at a Nashua town hall Saturday afternoon and then at a Windham house party Sunday morning.

Ever since we learned that the Hillary Clinton campaign had attempted to plant questions at at least two events earlier this year, the media antennas have been perked up during candidate question periods for seemingly easier-than-usual queries. While both the Giuliani camp and Florino deny that his questions were planted, internal alarm bells still went off today when Florino asked his second friendly question in as many days.

At Saturday’s Nashua town hall forum Florino, seated directly behind the stage, asked Giuliani to summarize why Democrats are weak on defense, in a question that echoed the candidate’s traditional national security talking points.

“What makes the liberal Democrats so wrong about the threats that this country faces?” he asked, adding, “the liberal Democrats and their accomplises in the liberal editorial pages of the New York Times..overlook the threats (putting the) United States in a position of being the wrong party rather than the right party in these conflicts.”

Giuliani responded initially by complimenting Florino’s question. “Very, very interesting analysis. And you are absolutely right,” he said, before launching into his answer.
At a house party held Sunday about 10 miles from Nashua, at the home of Giuliani’s other Windham co-chairman, Florino was again the first person called upon to ask a question. Florino had domestic issues on his mind as he posed a two-part question asking for Giuliani’s reaction to Democrats’ tax plans and Romney’s changing views of former President Ronald Reagan.

After the event, Florino told inquiring reporters that he had no interaction with Giuliani campaign staff prior to either event and had not been approached to ask any questions.  “I raised my hand,” he said. “If I’m there, I get called on.” Florino also attended a Salem town holiday parade Giuliani marched in on Sunday but did not speak with the candidate.

Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella said the campaign does not plant questions and has no control over whether  volunteers raise their hands or get called on. “These are open forums and there is no way to control them….the mayor randomly calls on people,” she said, adding “we get asked aggressive questions all the time as well.”

New Hampshire voters are famously demanding and it is not uncommon for those volunteering for campaigns to show up at multiple events and expect to interact with the candidate. For his part, Florino has been a busy man this year, attending events in October, August, and as far back as  last November where he asked the former mayor when he was going to announce his run for the White House. Happy Googling everyone.