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American presidential candidates are used to dealing with The Character Issue", but Rudy Giuliani must be the first to face The Cellphone Issue. The Republican candidate has been interrupting speeches -- some nationally televised -- to take calls from his wife Judith. He's been doing this against advice from his staffers, who have told him that his antics are alienting audiences. And now, America's political pundits are debating the likely political ramifications. Fox News has even commissioned a poll (and they are reporting that 9 per cent of Americans disapprove of the the behaviour). Now, the former mayor risks being branded " Case in point:

On one occasion, after taking a call from his wife, Giuliani apparently noticed that his audience was less than impressed, and attempted this rhetorical rescue mission: "I've been married three times ... I can't afford to lose another one. I'm sure you understand."

There's another possible explanation for this very odd behaviour. Perhaps Giuliani is expecting to lose the nomination and is positioning himself for a new career -- starring in cellphone commercials?