Kansas City, Mo. ? He’s not a candidate, but most of the chanting was for “Rudy!” as former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani stopped Wednesday in Kansas City to support Republican candidates in Missouri and Kansas.

Giuliani spoke on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Talent of Missouri, and gubernatorial candidate Tim Shallenburger and congressional candidate Adam Taff of Kansas.

The rally was mostly about encouraging Republicans to vote Tuesday, and none of the candidates spoke much about specific proposals.

During his four-minute appearance, Giuliani said he believed Talent shared his philosophy on leadership “He understands that you build the community from within, not from without,” Giuliani said.

He said building a safe society and helping people find jobs would help the poor “access the road to success rather than, as many of our opponents do, block poorer people from moving out of poverty.”

A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, whom Talent is trying to unseat, disputed the notion that Talent would be more helpful to the poor.

“When it comes to the issues of economic security, Jean Carnahan has shown that she is on the side of working families, and Jim Talent has shown that he is on the side of special interests,” Spokesman Dan Leistikow said.

After he spoke, Giuliani paused to sign a copy of the Time magazine issue naming him Person of the Year for 2001.

Former New York city Mayor Rudolph Giuliani campaigns for Republican candidates, including congressional candidate Adam Taff, right, at a rally in Kansas City, Mo. Giuliani spoke on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Talent of Missouri, Kansas gubernatorial candidate Tim Shallenburger and Taff at Wednesday's event.

Giuliani, a liberal Republican, downplayed the political differences between himself and the conservative Shallenburger. Asked about those differences on his way out of the hotel, Giuliani said, “I think the really important thing is leadership.”

Shallenburger acknowledged differences between himself and Giuliani on issues such as abortion and gun control. But, he said, “On most issues on safety, on taxes, on schools we agree.”

George Rutz, an Army military policeman in the 1950s, wore his blue American Legion cap to the rally. Rutz, of Spring Hill, Kan., said he lived in Abilene, Kan., when fellow Abilene resident Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for president. Rutz volunteered for Eisenhower then, and he’s planting yard signs for fellow veteran Taff now.

“I told him he’s the best candidate since Eisenhower, since he has military experience,” Rutz said. “