Rudolph Giuliani Odds Not Affected by Alleged Chavez Ties

This is Carrie Stroup with some breaking news concerning Rudolph Giuliani 2008 Presidential betting odds.

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Sunday defended his law firm's role in representing Citgo Petroleum Corp., which is ultimately controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying it was helping to protect American jobs.

Giuliani acknowledged, though, that his opponents will try to exploit news this week that a lawyer with Bracewell & Giuliani, of Houston, has been representing Citgo before the Texas legislature. The firm has had a contract with Citgo since before Giuliani joined it.

"Oh, they'll exploit everything," Giuliani said. "There are things that make sense and things that don't make sense, and that doesn't make any sense. It was one of those political attacks where you have nothing to do with it, you're not involved in it and so it doesn't really worry you very much. What they're doing is lawful and honorable and helping to protect jobs for more than 100,000 Americans."

This news hasn't affected betting trends and oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com (see website here) have remained steadfast about offering betting odds on Giuliani at 5 to 2 compared with John McCain's 5 to 1.

Barack Obama continues to hold with 6 to 1 odds while Hillary Clinton had even odds and was the favorite to become the next President of the United States outright. 

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Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com

Originally published March 19, 2007 1:23 pm ET