Giuliani, in West Texas, gets backing from Clayton Williams

Texas — Oilman and failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams said Friday that he supports GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani.

Williams, who said he was influenced by Gov. Rick Perry's recent endorsement of the former New York mayor, said Giuliani is the GOP's best hope to defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

"I'm here because Giuliani fairly thoroughly represents the conservative Republican principles most Texans believe in," Williams said after a Friday fundraiser for Giuliani at Midland's Petroleum Club. "He is for limiting government, limiting taxes, more parental controls of schools, competitive schools and energy independence.

"I didn't find a single thing I disagreed with him on," he said, according to a report for Saturday editions of the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

Giuliani supports legalized abortion, embryonic stem cell research and gun control.

Williams, a rancher and West Texas businessman, lost the 1990 governor's race in a campaign sunk by his gaffes. The Republican's outrageous remarks and multiple missteps propelled liberal Democrat Ann Richards to the state's top spot.

During his appearance in Midland, Giuliani called for a long-term commitment to giving Iraq a stable government, warned of military action if Iran does not relinquish nuclear ambitions and promised to cut taxes.

Giuliani was accompanied by Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams, another state official who is supporting his candidacy.

Williams said Giuliani's positions on gun control and abortion are not as extreme as Clinton's.

"I would like it to be a little stronger, but what it boils down to is that Hillary is 100 percent on the other side," he said. "When he said 'no new taxes,' that was a step forward. He is for more clean coal, nuclear power, more domestic oil and more availability to offshore oil deposits.

"I like (Mitt) Romney and (John) McCain, too. It wasn't an easy choice."