Making her first appearance on the campaign trail in nearly three and a half weeks, Judith Nathan Giuliani accompanied her husband to a post-Univision debate rally Sunday night in Miami. She greeted the mostly-Latino crowd of about 60 supporters with a handful of Spanish words.

Early on she declared, “Esta noche, muy bonita,” garnering applause from the crowd at the Holiday Inn ballroom, to which he responded that she is the only Spanish-speaking member of the household. Later, after he completed a short speech, she added “buenas noches, gracias,” rolling the Spanish “R” perfectly.

The last time she appeared beside the mayor was during a November 18 campaign trip–also to Miami–where they attended a NASCAR race at the Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway.

Mrs. Giuliani’s time away from the campaign trail coincides with news that came out nearly two weeks ago related to controversial billing practices regarding security costs for trips then-Mayor Giuliani made to visit her while the two were engaged in an extra-marital affair. It was also revealed last week that she was provided with NYPD security patrol earlier than previously known.

The campaign declined requests to interview her on Sunday and it remains to be seen how or even if Mrs. Giuliani will respond to the NYPD security story. For his part, the former New York City mayor has said that he did nothing inappropriate and any security she was provided was determined to be necessary by the NYPD. Mrs. Giuliani has been among the most quiet of the candidates’ spouses on the trail, only speaking at a handful of events during the last year.

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Durham, NH — Rudy Giuliani said he does not believe it was a mistake for New York City taxpayers to pick up the security tab associated with visits related to his then extra-marital affair with Judith Nathan.

Following a town hall at the University of New Hampshire today, he took questions from the media where the issue hounding him all week inevitably came up.

“I think everything was done quite appropriately. All this has been answered. I think all this was answered 4 or 5 years ago. I looked at the newspaper accounts back 4 or 5 years ago. So this is a way of rehashing something that’s already been asked and answered,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani has called the reports this week that showed “obscure” city offices were billed for some of the security costs instead of the NYPD a “hit job.” He argues that since he received 24/7 protection as mayor, it is completely normal that all security costs were picked up by the city (the NYPD reportedly reimbursed city offices for their tab)–even his personal trips.

 Dubuque, IA
Governor Romney was bombarded by questions at a press availability after an Ask Mitt Anything event in Dubuque, IA. Most of the questions involved one topic only: the allegations that Rudy Giuliani took trips to the Hamptons with Judith Nathan, while he was still married to second wife Donna Hanover, and that the NYPD security detail was paid for out of “obscure” city departments to hide the rendezvous.

Romney went out of his way NOT to attack Rudy personally. Obviously a decision that was made within the campaign after the scandal broke. Romney said several times that people should give Giuliani the “benefit of the doubt.” The Iowa frontrunner evaded the many questions tossed his way on the story, “This is something that the mayor is addressing and I think we ought to give him the opportunity to address that as he felt  appropriate. I really don’t have anything to say or add to the discussion other than let’s give him an ample chance to look at the history and explain what he feels is needed.”

Yesterday, Rudy said the release of the story hours before Wednesday’s debate might be a political hit job. I asked the Governor if he thought that could be possible, “I turn to the source of the story and let the source of the story explain how they obtained the information they did. I have no information that would suggest one way or another what the answer is to his charge in that regard.”

Romney also addressed his security when he was Governor and took personal trips, “Security is associated with your travel and protection wherever you are and that aspect is not something that is unusual or inappropriate. You really couldn’t have security that would only be with you at certain times or you would be very much at risk. “

The Romney campaign likes to press that they are taking the high road and avoiding personal attacks, in contrast they say to Wednesday’s debate when Giuliani  accused Romney of having illegal immigrants do gardening work for him.

Romney and Rudy have been attacking each other back and forth over the last week. This scandal would be a way for Romney to sling some mud and question Giuliani’s ethics, but as of now the campaign has decided to keep things clean.

Backup tonight for Rudy Giuliani and his argument countering yesterday’s Politico story, which alleges that he billed “obscure” city offices to hide NYPD costs associated with trips to the Hamptons. (See Carl’s earlier Vlog)

The office of current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement Thursday night stating, “during the Giuliani Administration, we believe that security expenses that were originally paid by the Mayor’s office were ultimately reimbursed by the Police Department.”

Giuliani asserts that he received 24/7 NYPD security as mayor and they followed him regardless of where he went, so there would have never been a need to hide security costs. For budgeting reasons, the mayor’s office would sometimes temporarily pay security expenses after which the NYPD would then reimburse his office, Giuliani explained yesterday. With this latest Bloomberg statement, Camp Rudy can continue to fend off charges of any fiscal impropriety.

Sources in Bloomberg’s office also tell Fox News that they take issue with Politico’s characterization of some of the offices that were billed by the NYPD as “obscure.” While current officials can’t explain why the NYPD would have initially billed offices like the City Loft Board and Office for People with Disabilities for police costs, they assert that the offices fall within the mayor’s budget and are not “disparate” or “obscure.” In sum, if a mayor was trying to cover up costs, he would not use those offices.

But, even as the Giuliani campaign continues to refute any wrongdoing, they are still left tacitly acknowledging the former mayor’s then extra-marital affair with Judith Nathan, whom he would visit on these trips to the Hamptons. (See today’s NY tabs here and here.) Turmoil from his personal life is not quite the part of his New York City record the campaign wants to be discussing with just a little more than a month to go before the first primaries.

St. Petersburg, FL — First response to the Politico article today alleging Rudy Giuliani improperly billed NYC departments for security associated with trips to the Hamptons in 2001.

Giuliani surrogate, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), spoke to reporters in Florida minutes ago.

“The mayor did absolutely nothing improper. He did everything appropriate. the NYPD did everything appropriate. And even if you read the story carefully it does not say the mayor billed anyone for anything….I can assure you now that everything was done properly and there is absolutely nothing to it.”

Read more here….