Former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani endorsed his one-time political foe Mitt Romney for president Monday, saying that the former Massachusetts governor has won the Republican nomination “fair and square.” 
 
 
 
 Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani speaks at the National Press Club in Washington in this Sept. 6, 2011, file photo. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES) 
 
 Putting aside years of animosity with Romney following the 2008 presidential race, Giuliani said he met Romney for breakfast last week and, after pressing him on economic and foreign policy matters, concluded he would be the GOP’s best standard bearer. 
 
 “I think that Mitt has won fair and square,” Giuliani said during an interview Monday morning on Fox News. “He’s proven he’s the most effective Republican, he’s taken on everybody and won an incredible number of primaries, and he’s got the resume and background for the job.... Who better than Mitt Romney to carry our banner?” 
 
 A hint of the endorsement came earlier this month when Guy Molinari, Romney’s New York chairman and a Giuliani confidant, predicted that the former mayor would back Romney despite their “bad blood.” 
 
 Giuliani said he would have been inclined to support former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a longtime friend, had he waged a more effective campaign. He said he settled on Romney over the past week. 
 
 Giuliani said “there’s no doubt about it” that his stinging 2008 rivalry with Romney left lasting animosity between the two. But now, Giuliani said, he is willing to do “anything I could” to help Romney defeat President Obama. 
 
 “I don’t think the Democrats have any idea what they’re running against,” Giuliani said on Fox. “Mitt Romney’s a tough, tough campaigner, and his campaign organization is really tough.” 
 
 In a statement his campaign released following Giuliani’s endorsement, Romney said: “I’m very proud to earn the support of such a distinguished leader and public servant to our country. Rudy’s successes in turning around New York City are well-known and his name is synonymous with leadership, uniting a city in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in our nation’s history. I look forward to his help in the months ahead as I work to restore America’s promise and reverse President Obama’s failed policies.” 

 4 years ago 
 
 (CNN) - One-time Mitt Romney rival Rudy Giuliani endorsed the all-but-certain Republican presidential nominee for president on Monday. And the former New York City mayor downplayed any chance he would be considered a running mate on the GOP ticket. 
 
 Giuliani made his endorsement in an appearance on Fox News, saying that Romney's "got the resume and background for the job." 
 
 
 
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 He added that when it comes to the economy and foreign policy, Romney is the right choice come November, over President Barack Obama. 
 
 "I think he has an understanding of the economy that's far deeper than the president and far deeper than most people, and I think he has the strength and toughness to handle foreign policy," Giuliani said. 
 
 The former mayor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate said he met with Romney last week. 
 
 "I had a very good breakfast with him. We had a very long talk," Giuliani said. "Of course we've talked a number of times. This was a really good long talk." 
 
 Giuliani and Romney were rivals in the last battle for the GOP presidential nomination, with both candidates losing to Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Earlier this cycle Giuliani said nice things about presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and had some critical comments of Romney. But when it came to the race for the nomination, he said "Mitt has won fair and square." 
 
 As for being considered a running mate to the former Massachusetts governor, Giuliani said "I'm not on the list for running mate. I'm sure of that." 
 
 But Giuliani then went on to say: "But I would help him in any way that I could, anything I can do." 
 
 Last year Giuliani flirted with a second run for the GOP nomination before deciding against making another bid for the White House. 
 
 Following the interview, Romney's presidential campaign released a statement. 
 
 "I'm very proud to earn the support of such a distinguished leader and public servant to our country," Romney said. "Rudy's successes in turning around New York City are well-known and his name is synonymous with leadership, uniting a city in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history. I look forward to his help in the months ahead as I work to restore America's promise and reverse President Obama's failed policies."
– Rudy Giuliani officially endorsed Mitt Romney in a Fox News appearance today, putting aside any lingering animosity from their 2008 contest—and his longstanding friendship with Newt Gingrich. Giuliani had spoken glowingly of Gingrich earlier in the campaign, and says he would have endorsed him if he'd run a better campaign. "I think Mitt has won fair and square," he said, according to the Washington Post. "Who better than Mitt Romney to carry our banner?" Giuliani also dismissed out of hand any talk that he might be part of Romney's veepstakes, CNN reports. "I'm not on the list for running mate. I'm sure of that," he said. Romney issued a statement after Giuliani's appearance, saying he was "very proud to earn the support of such a distinguished leader" and that he looked "forward to his help in the months ahead."