WASHINGTON - Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor whose popularity soared after his response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, moved closer to a full-fledged campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

In a sign that he’s serious about running for the White House, the two-term mayor was filing a so-called “statement of candidacy” with the Federal Election Commission, said an official close to Giuliani’s campaign.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting any disclosure by Giuliani. The former mayor had public appearances in New York scheduled for later in the day.

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