Ernie Els Scoffs at Losers

The wife of former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani plunged the 2008 G.O.P. presidential contest into controversy today by revealing that she is also married to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Judith Nathan had previously admitted to an undisclosed third marriage last week, but few political observers were prepared for her disclosure of a fourth, particularly to a man who is also a prominent candidate for the G.O.P nod.

At a press conference in New York, Ms. Nathan appeared before the media with Mr. Giuliani by her side as she revealed her marriage to the former Massachusetts governor.

“In addition to being married to Rudy, I am also married to Mitt,” she told the press, “I guess I kind of forgot.”  She went on to say, "It kind of doubles my shot at first lady."

While recognizing that her disclosure could complicate Mr. Giuliani’s bid for the G.O.P. nomination, she added, “I truly appreciate the love and support of my husband – and of my other husband, too.”

At Romney headquarters in Boston, aides to the former Massachusetts governor had no comment other than to say that Mr. Romney was conducting “a full inventory” of the wives he currently has.

Davis Logsdon, professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, said that Ms. Nathan’s admission that she is married to both Mr. Romney and Mr. Giuliani could boost another G.O.P. candidate: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz).

“McCain stands to benefit from all of this, providing that he can definitively prove that he is not married to Judith Nathan,” he said.