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CNN Sunday Morning

`TIME' Person of the Year is Rudolph Giuliani

Aired December 23, 2001 - 07:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You probably could have guessed it. Good that it was a hands down choice. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is picked as "TIME's" Person of the Year. CNN's Brian Palmer joins us now live from Times Square.

I know it's earlier, but is there a lot of -- or is he going to be coming up to talk to us. He does not -- he is there? All right, he's there and it's earlier.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm here. I'm here.

PHILLIPS: Are people responding?

PALMER: Well, the few people that are here are responding. There are two words on their lips, Rudy Giuliani. He is indeed "TIME"'s Person of the Year for 2001, designated by the managing editor of "TIME" magazine. He beat out the likes of Osama bin Laden and George W. Bush.

Now, choices in the past have been controversial, some would say confusing. But I think people are pretty well behind this one.

We're joined actually this morning by Doug Moore of Toronto, Canada.

Mr. Moore, what do you think about the choice of Rudy Giuliani?

DOUG MOORE, TORONTO, CANADA: I think it's a great choice. He's outstanding. He's done a wonderful job for New York and the residents here. We've watched him from Toronto and we're just so supportive of everything he's done. He's just amazing.

PALMER: Now, I think, obviously, one of the main reasons was his statesman like leadership of New York through the September 11 attacks. Was this something that people really focused on in Canada?

MOORE: Well, of course, yes. You know, we were being -- having a daughter here too; we certainly focused on what was happening here. She works in -- or she lives in New Jersey. And yes, he's just been an amazing person, very supportive to the city of New York.

PALMER: Mr. Moore, thank you. So Kyra, we're going to keep canvassing people out here in Time's Square. It's a bit quiet now seeing as it's a bit earlier, but we're going to do that and I think we're going to get sort of real acclimation of "TIME" magazine's choice this year -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: That sounds good Brian. All right, you grab a cup of coffee. We'll see you later on, OK?

O'BRIEN: All right, Brian's having a tough time this morning, no question. But hey, it is the city that doesn't sleep.

PHILLIPS: That's right. They're going 24, seven.

O'BRIEN: Finding a cogent response at this hour, that's another matter entirely. And there's some debate about this cover choice. We're going to get into that a little later in the program. A lot of people...

PHILLIPS: Because you weren't Man of the Year, is that why?

O'BRIEN: No, no. I mean a lot of people would tell you just based on the news value; you'd have to go with Osama bin Laden. But of course...

PHILLIPS: I think America would be up in arms.

O'BRIEN: You're not going to sell magazines that way.

PHILLIPS: No way.

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