Giuliani seeks prayers

MIAMI, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani kicked off a three-day campaign swing through Florida Sunday by asking churchgoers for their prayers.

"I'm not coming here to ask for your vote ... I'm asking you for your prayers," the former New York mayor told a crowd of about 7,000 at a Hispanic evangelical church outside Miami, The Palm Beach Post reported.

Speaking in English with a Spanish translator at El Rey Jesus Church, Giuliani told congregants to "fear not, be strong and of good courage."

"That is the way to provide real leadership. That's what I've strived to do all my life," he said.

Campaigning in the Sunshine State ahead of its Jan. 29 presidential primary, Giuliani also spoke to the congregation about the importance of faith and touched on illegal immigration, the newspaper reported.

"We need them at every level," Giuliani said of immigrants.

He added it's a "wonderful thing" that people from other parts of the world want to come here, but the United States needs to end illegal immigration.

Giuliani's campaign said he spoke to the nondenominational church at the pastor's invitation.