Former New York mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani hit the campaign trail for Mark Kirk today, flying into Chicago for an under-the-radar fundraiser.
Kirk's campaign didn't announce the luncheon, held this afternoon at the swanky Loop staple Petterino's. A representative at the restaurant confirmed the fundraiser, but spokespeople for Kirk didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
It's at least the second time in two weeks that Kirk has quietly held a fundraiser.
Last week, in Winnetka, he called the president "this guy" in a talk with Republican supporters, saying they were on their way to making Barack Obama a "one-termer."
Kathleen Strand, spokeswoman for Alexi Giannoulias, Kirk's Democratic rival for Obama's old Senate seat, says Giuliani's appearance illustrates another Kirk misstep: voting against Democratically proposed limits on executive pay.
"It's no wonder that Congressman Kirk invited his Republican friend to pull a secret fundraiser for him when the two couldn't agree more that exorbitant CEO bonuses are wonderful," Strand says.
In January, Giuliani told radio host Don Imus that Wall Street bonuses are "wonderful," presumably referring to their ability to raise tax revenue for the city of New York.
"They were wonderful from the point of getting the money you need to run New York City," he told Imus. "Particularly when there were paid in cash rather than stock because in stock you don't get the benefit until somebody sells the stock."
Giuliani's appearance also highlights Kirk's attempt to woo conservative support on a national scale.
Last year, during the primary season, he got a lot of flak for asking Sarah Palin for her support after saying he wouldn't have picked her as a vice-presidential running mate.