Changes

Giuliani's backers also released an open letter to firefighters from retired New York firefighter Lee Ielpi that calls the union's accusations offensive and inaccurate. Ielpi lost his oldest son, 29-year-old New York City firefighter Jonathan Lee Ielpi, on Sept. 11.  

Giuliani's backers also released an open letter to firefighters from retired New York firefighter Lee Ielpi that calls the union's accusations offensive and inaccurate. Ielpi lost his oldest son, 29-year-old New York City firefighter Jonathan Lee Ielpi, on Sept. 11.  

``''I was deeply disappointed and disheartened to learn of the recent partisan political activities by the IAFF", he wrote. ``Firefighters have no greater friend and supporter than Rudy Giuliani,'' Ielpi said.[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8o5p2XiTQhk&refer=us]Giuliani's camapign staff noted that the IAFF endorsed Senator John Kerry's presidential bid in 2003 when the Massachusetts Democrat was still considered a long shot.   [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8o5p2XiTQhk&refer=us]

``''I was deeply disappointed and disheartened to learn of the recent partisan political activities by the IAFF", he wrote. ``Firefighters have no greater friend and supporter than Rudy Giuliani,'' Ielpi said.[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8o5p2XiTQhk&refer=us]Politicaly, the IAFF's members are 42 percent Republican, 40 percent Democratic and the rest independent, however they have endorsed John Kerry and Al Gore in the past elections.   [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8o5p2XiTQhk&refer=us]

==2008 Presidential Campaign==

==2008 Presidential Campaign==