Mrs. Giuliani to Rudy: NRA Can Wait

When you get to your third marriage, you take your wife's call -- even if you're in the middle of a speech to the National Rifle Association.

Rudy Giuliani was giving what could be one of the most important speeches of his presidential candidacy this afternoon -- speaking to a skeptical NRA audience -- when his cell phone rang.

"Let's see now, this is my wife calling, I think," Giuliani said as he fished for his cell phone in his jacket pocket.

And answered it.

"Hello dear," he said, apparently talking to his wife, Judith Giuliani. "I'm talking to the members of the NRA right now. Would you like to say hello?"

While the audience waited -- and waited -- patiently, Giuliani continued to talk to his wife.

"I love you," he said, smiling as he listened to the answer. "I'll call you as soon as I'm finished. Have a safe trip.

Talk to you later. I love you."

As he put the phone away, he turned to the audience and added: "It's better that way," apparently a reference to the alternative -- letting his wife's call go to voicemail.

And then, as if nothing had happened, he launched back into his speech, earning tepid applause as he attempted to justify his gun control efforts as mayor.

Update: Giuliani's forgotten about his cell phone's "silent" option before

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/21/for_mrs_giuliani_the_nra_can_w.html