When the candidates running for president of the United States look at Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes, their eyes light up like those of a kid in a candy store.

Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani was that kid yesterday when he toured the confection-laden aisles of Sarris Candies in Canonsburg.

Mr. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, stopped in to greet workers and customers, sample some of the sugar-free chocolates, and explain why he is best-suited for his party's nomination next year.

"Pennsylvania is a very, very important state," he said. "We want to win the primary, and we want to make sure we win the general election here and return it to the Republican column, where it belongs, and I believe that I'm the Republican who can do that. I think I have the best chance of winning Pennsylvania."

He said the difference is that other Republican candidates only poll well in certain parts of the country, while his support is strong nationwide.

"I'm the only Republican candidate that can carry on a 50-state campaign," he said. "We can make races in states that haven't had competitive races. If I get nominated by the Republican Party a year from now, I'll be back here in Pennsylvania campaigning, because I can win Pennsylvania.

"If we nominate one of the other Republicans, they're going to do one of these 25-state campaigns. They're going to close their offices [in states they don't think they can win]."

Mr. Giuliani, who visited five states yesterday, swept into Canonsburg's famous candy store and ice cream parlor in mid-afternoon.

"Oh my goodness, I feel like I'm coming into a wonderland. It's like a wonderland in here," he said upon seeing the colorful rows of chocolates, candies, toys and collectibles set out by proprietor Frank Sarris.

During a tour of the Halloween displays, the former mayor picked out a scarecrow to take home, along with two half-pound bags of sugar-free chocolate.

Mr. Sarris wanted to give him the chocolate as a gift, but Mr. Giuliani insisted that he had to pay for it.

"I'm going to be very popular at home," Mr. Giuliani joked as he shook hands with workers and signed a copy of his book, "Leadership," for Natalie Smiley, 42, of North Strabane.

Ms. Smiley, wearing a "Team Giuliani" sweat shirt, said she became a supporter during one of her many trips to New York.

"I'm a big fan of the changes that he made there," she said. "It became a much more pleasant place to visit. I think he's the best candidate, hands down."

Mr. Giuliani took time to criticize the Democratic candidates -- particularly Sen. Hillary Clinton -- for the treatment of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who this week reported to Congress on the progress being made in Iraq.

"I think everyone realizes that this is an honest man, an honorable man, who is doing the best he can to give America victory in Iraq, which is a lot more than all the politicians are doing," he said. "Even if you don't agree with him, you ought to respect him."

Mr. Giuliani also said that America is safer, in part, because of the effort going on in Iraq.

"When I had responsibility for the safety and security of New York City, I was warned by many people that we'd be attacked again," he said. "We haven't been attacked.

"I believe some of that has to do with our being on offense against terrorism. I think it has to do with the Patriot Act. I think it has to do with electronic surveillance, I think it has to do with interrogation techniques that are aggressive but not torture.

"I believe it very much has to do with what our military has done -- in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, what they're doing in Iraq. All these things kind of come together with being on offense against these Islamic terrorists and they've brought us a certain degree of safety that people didn't think we would have."