McCain Takes Florida
CNN projects that John McCain has won the Florida Republican primary.
(CNN) — Sen. John McCain will win the Florida Republican primary, CNN projects based on election results and exit polling, edging out rival Mitt Romney.
The results could deliver a fatal blow to the campaign of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was a distant third as results came in Tuesday night.
While Giuliani didn't say he was withdrawing from the race, he did speak of his campaign in the past tense at one point.
"I'm proud I ran a positive campaign," he told supporters. "I ran a campaign that was uplifting."
With 76 percent of Republican precincts reporting, McCain held a 36-31 percent lead over Romney. Giuliani had 15 percent of the vote, followed closely by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who held 14 percent.
A top campaign official from McCain's camp has been in "ongoing discussions" with Giuliani's campaign about endorsing McCain's candidacy, a GOP official familiar with talks told CNN Tuesday.
A source close to Giuliani confirmed that discussions were taking place and said there is talk among the staff that an endorsement could come Wednesday in California. The source said McCain and Giuliani need to talk, but "we are working to make it happen."
"Tonight, my friends, we celebrate. Tomorrow, it's back to work," McCain said as he claimed victory. "We have a ways to go, but we're getting close, and for that, you all have my profound thanks."
The Associated Press is reporting that Rudy Giuliani will drop out of the race and endorse McCain.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Rudy Giuliani, who bet his presidential hopes on Florida only to come in third, prepared to quit the race Tuesday and endorse his friendliest rival, John McCain.
The former New York mayor stopped short of announcing he was stepping down, but delivered a valedictory speech that was more farewell than fight-on.
Giuliani finished a distant third to winner McCain and second-place finisher Mitt Romney. Republican officials said Giuliani would endorse McCain on Wednesday in California. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in advance of the public announcement.
"The responsibility of leadership doesn't end with a single campaign, it goes on and you continue to fight for it," Giuliani said, as supporters with tight smiles crowded behind him. "We ran a campaign that was uplifting."
It's beginning to look like McCain might take it.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Tuesday, 29 January , 2008 @ 10:41 pm
I’ll shed a momentary tear for my first choice, Rudy. But, no more than that. My vote on February 5th now goes to Romney.
By syn, Wednesday, 30 January , 2008 @ 6:06 am
I sure hope you’re not alone Anthony, I wouldn’t want a heavy duty Al Gore Greenie in the White House; the Long War cannot be fought with corn-fueled jet fighters and tanks.
In any case it may be that my vote will matter after all so if the race ends up coming down to the choice between a Liberal D and Liberal R my promise to moderate-independents is a vote for the Liberal D. If America needs a high Misery Index to understand how awful has become Liberalism let them feel the pain through a Democrat.
After the last last six years of being bashed bloody over the head for defending and supporting the war while seeing so many moderates/independents side with liberals to achieve defeat over Bush at the expense of harming our troops, the ‘it’s about the war’ is now a hallow argument.
By feeblemind, Wednesday, 30 January , 2008 @ 8:15 am
Syn: Instead of voting for the enemy, why not vote for Fred? Write him in. It sends a clear message to the GOP that you are not happy with their candidate and I suspect you will feel better when you walk out of the voting booth.
By syn, Wednesday, 30 January , 2008 @ 8:40 am
Great suggestion, I said the exact same thing to Republican voters whom I called and went door-to-door to get out the vote for Fred (on my own dime!) however the majority freaked and ended up voting for The Poll’s candidate.
In any case, unfortunately I live in NYC so my ‘write-in’ will be too small for the GOP to notice, they will take note if Hillary is elected though, as will all the independent/moderate voters who don’t seem to know what it is they’re doing.