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Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007

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TULARE, Calif. -- It didn't take a soil scientist to detect that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was on unfamiliar turf at the 40th World Ag Expo.

Dressed in a black suit, sweater vest and penny loafers, Giuliani joked Tuesday about his lack of agricultural know-how at the farm equipment show where even the crowned and glittery Dairy Princess wore jeans and boots. But he vowed to be well-versed on the subject by the end of his campaign for president.

"This is not an area where I claim to be an expert, but I do understand how agriculture is critical to our nation," said Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican nomination. "If you're from Brooklyn, this a very good thing for you to see."

The farm show is an annual event in the San Joaquin Valley, the nation's most productive farmland that is home to dairies, fruit and nut orchards, vineyards and fields of vegetables.

Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona lead in popularity polls for the GOP nomination, well ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who officially entered the 2008 presidential race Tuesday.

Though clearly out of his urban element, Giuliani sought to reassure growers he had their interests in mind.

"The American farmer is the most innovative in the world," he said. "You feed us. You take care of us. Each of us kind of helps the other."

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Some of those who took the time to listen to Giuliani's keynote speech were at least impressed that he showed up even if he didn't know much about their field of work.

"A big-city New Yorker has enough interest to come here to the community and talk about the woes of the nation and about solutions," said Don Gregory, a former dairy farmer from Tulare. "I respect that."

© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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