Mystery Deepens About Giuliani Headache

However, experts on political crises say Giuliani is handling this exactly the wrong way.

Former Bush administration strategists say the Bush team faces relentless questions about Vice President Dick Cheney's heart.

"What you learn is that the times that you hide and the times that you are not as upfront about it is the times the story continues on and feeds on itself," said Matthew Dowd, former Bush strategist.

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In December 1999, then-Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., faced tough questions about the irregular heart rhythm he had not been completely forthright about.

Former Clinton White House senior aide Lanny Davis recalls Bradley's lack of disclosure as a turning point for his campaign.

"I was in Iowa that night during the caucuses, and I heard Iowa voters wondering whether Sen. Bradley had a very serious heart problem," Davis said.

Transparency

The incident is a painful reminder of the medical condition that forced Giuliani out of another political race almost eight years ago. Giuliani quit his Senate race against Hillary Clinton because of prostate cancer.

Campaign aides said Giuliani plans to return to the campaign trail as soon as Saturday.

They are unapologetic about how little medical information they've provided to the public about the mayor's condition, despite the fact that the last time Giuliani was in Des Moines, Iowa, he told voters his would be an open administration.

"I would make sure that government was government was transparent," he said during the Des Moines Register debate in early December. "My government in New York City was so transparent that they knew every single thing I did almost every time I did it."

However, that promise of transparency has not been applied to his health crisis. The irony is if former Mayor Giuliani gets the job of president, the White House physicians will disclose all his health information to the public.