Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) took attacks about Barack Obama's association with William Ayers one step further Tuesday, linking Obama's economic policies to the Weather Underground bomber's left-wing ideology.

Giuliani made the tortured connection when pressed on MSNBC whether he thinks that McCain's campaign should be talking about Ayers at the same time financial markets are collapsing.

"Of course, I'd be talking about it," Giuliani said. "This is totally extraordinary. I'd even tie it up to the economy. That's the reason he believes… in redistribution of wealth. That's why Barack Obama is the most left-wing member of the United States Senate. It's not by accident. 2007, the biggest, strongest liberal voting record, Barack Obama."

Giuliani added that Ayers wrote a book about wealth redistribution and that Obama has called for an increase in capital gains taxes.

"That's redistribution of wealth," Giuliani said.

Then he added: "This guy, educated in the Saul Alinsky methods, good friend of Ayers, very close to Wright. This is a very left wing — most left- wing candidate of the Democratic Party."

Obama has denounced Ayers's past role in bombings in the 1970s and his campaign has dismissed suggestions that Ayers has advised him. A campaign spokesman has also said that the two men haven't spoken since last year. Ayers had hosted a 1995 event for Obama's first campaign for state senate, and the two had served together on a charity board. But the two were not close, according to a New York Times investigation.

Read the full exchange between Giuliani and MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell and Mika Brzezinski after the jump.

MITCHELL: Well, I was just wondering — I mean, there were a lot of answers to that in that debate.But given everything that's happened in the markets in the last couple of days and if you were running for president, would you be running this whole campaign about a former Chicago, you know, radical who knew Obama years ago in community organization?

(LAUGHTER)

Would you be talking about all this stuff, which, frankly, seems like a distraction?

GIULIANI: To you, but not — I don't think to the American people, Andrea.

Of course, I'd be talking about it. This is totally extraordinary. I'd even tie it up to the economy. That's the reason he believes…

BRZEZINSKI: Yes.

GIULIANI: … in redistribution of wealth. That's why Barack Obama is the most left-wing member of the United States Senate. It's not by accident. 2007, the biggest, strongest liberal voting record, Barack Obama.

Friend of Ayers for at least three years, maybe longer. Ayers tried to blow up the New York City Police Department. This is a guy I don't like very much. He tried to blow up the United States Capitol. He tried to blow up the Pentagon. They set up bombs there.

BRZEZINSKI: What are you saying?

GIULIANI: He said he didn't do enough.

BRZEZINSKI: What are you saying?

(CROSSTALK)

GIULIANI: What I'm saying — and he has written a book in which he talks about the redistribution of wealth.

Catch Barack Obama's answer to money, capital: "I'm going — I'm not going to reduce capital gains tax. I've got to increase capital gains tax." And you're going to get less money, Barack, if you increase capital gains tax. "Oh, but it's only fair." That's redistribution of wealth.

This guy, educated in the Saul Alinsky methods, good friend of Ayers, very close to Wright. This is a very left wing — most left- wing candidate of the Democratic Party…

SCARBOROUGH: Let me ask you a question.

GIULIANI: … it's ideology.

BRZEZINSKI: Mr. Mayor?

(CROSSTALK)

GIULIANI: It's ideology, Andrea. It's not guilt by association.

MITCHELL: But, Mr. Mayor, the New York Times said that he was not a good friend. The New York Times said that they…

GIULIANI: Oh, gee, that's really…

(CROSSTALK)

MITCHELL: … did not have much of a relationship at all.

GIULIANI: Andrea, that really persuades me.

MITCHELL: That he was not even a friend.

GIULIANI: The New York Times said that? That really persuades me.

I didn't say he was a friend. I said…

MITCHELL: They did an investigation on it.

BRZEZINSKI: Well, what are you saying? What are you saying?

MITCHELL: You said he was a good friend.

GIULIANI: What I'm saying is it shows that the man has had left- wing advisers all throughout his career. His pastor…

BRZEZINSKI: You're saying (inaudible) an adviser.

GIULIANI: … his pastor for 20 years was Reverend Wright — 20 years. He selected the church. He went to the church. He didn't know what Reverend Wright was saying. Just like — one of his people said he didn't know that Ayers set off bombs.

I think it shows that there's a reason why he has the most left- wing record in the Senate. That's the way the guy thinks.