The NY Times documents how Rudy Giuliani’s extensive fundraising in Texas through energy industry donors connected to his law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, could actually pose risks for the campaign. Giuliani’s firm has a long history of lobbying against environmental regulations for energy companies working in the coal, oil, gas, and nuclear fields. Many of Giuliani’s Texas donors come from the energy industry and are connected to Bracewell, as well as the Bush fundraising machine.

Actually I think this concern trolling by the Times’ Russ Buettner is pretty silly. There are only two ways that Giuliani receiving massive donations from Texas energy tycoons can hurt him: first, if the media repeatedly reports who these donors are and what responsibility they bear for the reduction in environmental protections under the Bush administration; second, if Giuliani transparently takes policy cues from these donors. The second may happen, but unless the media consistently gives coverage to these connections, they will not hurt Giuliani.

In fact, the opposite is true — the energy industry will remain a deep, steady stream of income for him, propelling his campaign forward. What’s more, though I’d happily be wrong, I can say with a high degree of certainty that this single Buettner article is likely going to be the only article the Times ever commissions on the connections between Giuliani and his energy industry donors.

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