Organizers of the International Association of Fire Fighters conference considered not inviting him, even though Giuliani is the leader in every recent national poll of the 2008 Republican field. They decided last Thursday that they wanted members to hear from all leading candidates, so Giuliani was invited.

On Monday, union spokesman Jeff Zack said Giuliani accepted through aide Tim Brown and the schedule was rearranged so he could have a morning speaking slot. On Wednesday, Brown called and canceled.

"We're disappointed he won't be there," Zack said. "We did offer the invitation and ... we went to some lengths to accommodate him in the schedule that his campaign told us had to be met. We did our part."

The firefighters' union endorsed Democrat John Kerry in 2004. Speakers at the presidential forum Wednesday will include six Democrats and four Republicans.

Giuliani aides said the former mayor never committed to the forum and had a scheduling conflict. He wanted to be there but could not make it work, spokeswoman Maria Comella said. Giuliani plans to be in Houston on Tuesday and is raising money Wednesday in New York.

In the days after 9/11, Giuliani attended scores of funerals for police, fire and emergency workers killed in the attacks. He said he felt "very bad" that he couldn't get to all the funerals for firefighters.

The mood changed abruptly in November. Giuliani, citing safety concerns, cut back search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero before many firefighters' remains had been found. Firefighters protested and a number of them were arrested, further souring relations.

Republican strategist Lynn Mueller, a Giuliani supporter, said tense relations with unions are a fact of life for New York mayors.

"When something like 9/11 happens, everybody jumps in to see what they can do. And after the fact ... everybody falls back on their old behaviors," he said.

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Written by USA Today