Rudy is probably best known for standing tall when NYC really needed it in the aftermath of 9/11.
He is not a perfect person, and is not in my list of top 5 choices to be president, but he said the right things, and did the things that had to be done after that disaster. NYC needed someone with strength and leadership then, and he gave it to them.
Can you imagine the mess if Dinkens had been mayor on 9/11?