Clinton a hero, Giuliani a no-show for firefighters

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Firefighters, hailed as heroes on September 11, cheered Hillary Rodham Clinton when they gathered on Wednesday to size up U.S. presidential contenders minus Rudolph Giuliani.

Clinton, a 59-year-old Democratic senator from New York, and Giuliani, the 62-year-old former Republican mayor who led New York City during the attacks, are front-runners in polls months before the November 2008 vote.

Clinton and Illinois Democrat Sen. Barack Obama were among the 10 presidential candidates who spoke from the two parties; Giuliani said he was busy.

On a stage flanked by photos of the World Trade Center devastation, Clinton evoked memories of those days, telling the cheering International Association of Firefighters: "You were there when we needed you."

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