 In early August, under pressure from state and national Republican figures, Pataki endorsed Giuliani.Pataki prevailed upon Lazio to forgo his candidacy, which Lazio agreed to despite frustration that Giuliani had still not officially announced that he was running; Lazio said, "If the mayor wants to be a candidate, I think he needs to get into this race.It is time to put the soap opera aside and step up to the plate."