A few weeks ago, when U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her intention to run for president in 2008, we put the story on our front page.

It's never an exact science to make choices about our cover page, but I felt there were plenty of strong reasons to include this article. Here was a sitting U.S. senator from our state, who is woman, who is a former first lady, who happens to be one of the most talked-about politicians in the world, declaring that she wanted to be president.

I also feel that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign is also A1 material. Again, you have a New Yorker seeking this office. He also has an extremely high profile, after serving as one of New York City's most popular leaders of all time and becoming the “nation's mayor” in the days and weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.

But unlike Clinton, Giuliani's campaign has not been on our front page. What gives?

Some may accuse us of favoritism, but in reality there is a much simpler reason.

The answer, to be frank, is that we're confused (OK, it's mostly me). Unlike Clinton and many of the other presidential candidates out there, Giuliani has not done any kind of formal presidential campaign announcement.

Instead, he has been dropping lines at public appearances or during interviews that make it seem inevitable. During an interview with Larry King this week, Giuliani said, “Yes, I'm running.” But then he evaded a question about whether he will make a formal announcement.

There is a “Team Rudy” Web site, which issues press releases about the former mayor's vision for the country and the endorsements he's picked up. But the site, which is for his exploratory committee, does not say he is definitely running.

The national political reporters don't seem to be on the same page, either. I noticed this week the Associated Press coverage of Giuliani had references to his “presidential campaign.” The Washington Post, though, makes a point in its reporting to say he has not “formally entered the race.”

So is he a candidate? I think he is, but I wonder if we'll never have an official campaign launch story to publish.

When and if Giuliani does issue a statement or hold a press conference or go on his Web site to say that he wants to be the Republican presidential candidate, my intention is to put it on the front page. My worry is that such a moment may not come.

Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column runs Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net