Catsimatidis: Giuliani Told Me 'Lhota Can't Win'

Does Rudy Giuliani really believe his former deputy Joe Lhota can be elected mayor?

Well, according to Lhota’s Republican rival, John Catsimatidis, Giuliani well knows Lhota can't win.  Speaking to DNAinfo, Catsimatidis said he was at lunch last month with Giuliani when Giuliani admitted he doesn't think Lhota really has a chance. “Rudy sat there… and says, ‘Lhota can’t win.’ Eyeball to eyeball,” Catsimatidis told DNAinfo.com. “Because a pure Republican in this city can’t win," Giuliani allegedly said. 

Catsimatidis, who called Lhota a maintenance guy, is trying to make the electability argument to those eager of maintaining the Republican rule of the city. Catsimatidis believes, writes Jill Colvin, that his history as a longtime Clinton Democrat-turned Romney Republican will be more appealing in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 6-to-1. 

 "I like Joe Lhota. He’s a very decent person — nice person. But a pure Republican can’t win in this city,” Catsimatidis said