I’ve been pushing Rudy Giuliani’s serial exaggerations pretty hard, hoping against hope that traditional news outlets would notice the same trend. I started making the connection in July, but reporters said we’d have to wait until the new year before news outlets showed any interest.

With that in mind, seeing this story in the NYT today was a real treat.

In almost every appearance as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination, Rudolph W. Giuliani cites a fusillade of statistics and facts to make his arguments about his successes in running New York City and the merits of his views. [...]

All of these statements are incomplete, exaggerated or just plain wrong. And while, to be sure, all candidates use misleading statistics from time to time, Mr. Giuliani has made statistics a central part of his candidacy as he campaigns on his record. (emphasis added)

…An examination of many of his statements by The New York Times, other news organizations and independent groups have turned up a variety of misstatements, virtually all of which cast Mr. Giuliani or his arguments in a better light.

Be still my heart — actual, fact-checking journalism. About a Republican, no less.

Clip it, save it, savor it, send it around to your friends, email it to reporters covering the campaigns. This is one of those rare stories that reads like a piece from a functioning press corps that cares about accountability.

UPDATE: (Nicole) Never fear, in a typical moment of Republican lack of self-examination or irony, Rudy's BFF Bernie Kerik has stepped forward to vouch for Giuliani's character. Whew!