Giuliani Downplays Talk Of Ticket With McCain

July 21, 2008 10:48 a.m. EST

Albany, NY (AHN) - While his presidential opponent grabbed headlines during a tour of Afghanistan, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) opted for a quiet weekend watching a Yankees game with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

McCain and Giuliani signed baseballs and spoke with Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Oakland A's Bob Geren before game time on Sunday. When asked by Geren what was it like to run for president, the Arizona senator said, "It's like being in AA [baseball] and all of a sudden you're playing in Yankee Stadium," according to ABC.

Giuliani then spoke to reporters about Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) trip to the Middle East and Europe. "The fact that Barack Obama is kind of making his first tour, in essence, of the world, gives you an indication that John McCain is the man with the experience. John doesn't have to go for the first or second time to these places. He's been going for 20, 30 years. He knows the world. He understands the world," he said.

Giuliani, who dropped out of the Republican race and endorsed McCain early this year, also downplayed speculation about his chances of becoming the presumptive Republican nominee's running mate.

"I'm not thinking about any of those things. I know you are! You have a right to think about it. And I have a right not to think about it because we've got an election right now to think about and get it done right," he said.