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Posted: January 29, 2008 10:31 PM
McCain Wins Florida Primary, Could Gain Giuliani Endorsement
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After a highly contentious race in the Sunshine State and buoyed by support from moderates, Hispanics and older voters, Arizona Sen.
John McCain captured the Florida Republican primary Tuesday evening and with it all 57 of the state’s delegates.

With the victory, McCain moved ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the delegate count and will carry the momentum heading next week’s critical Super Tuesday.

“It shows one thing. I’m the conservative leader who can unite the party,” McCain said in an interview with the Associated Press. “It’s a very significant boost, but I think we’ve got a tough week ahead and a lot of states to come.”

With 80 percent of precincts reporting, McCain had 36 percent of the vote, followed by Romney with 31 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 15 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had 13 percent. Texas Rep. Ron Paul was fifth with 3 percent.

“I am deeply grateful for everyone who in good times and bad devoted much energy and hope to keeping our candidacy competitive,” McCain told supporters at a victory rally. “This is a hard fought election and worth fighting for. I offer my best wishes to Gov. Romney and his supporters — you fought hard for your candidate.”

According to surveys of voters conducted for the Associated Press, the “economy was the top issue for nearly half the Republican electorate. Terrorism, the war in Iraq and immigration followed in importance. In a state that is a magnet for retirees, more than one-third of the voters were 65 or older.”

Romney was the choice among voters opposed to abortion and opposed to easing the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, according to the survey.

Next Tuesday 21 states will hold Republican and Democratic primaries, and over 1,000 delegate votes will be up for grabs. Romney headed into Florida’s primary with 59 delegates, Huckabee had 40, McCain had 36 and Giuliani had one.

McCain’s victories so far have been in Florida, New Hampshire and South Carolina, while Romney’s primary win was in Michigan.

Giuliani and Huckabee finished in third and fourth place, respectively. For Giuliani, the result could mean the end of his campaign. According to the Associated Press and other media outlets, high-level negotiations took place between Giuliani and McCain operatives for the former mayor to drop out of the contest and endorse the Arizona senator.

That endorsement was expected to come Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Library in California, and McCain addressed Giuliani in his victory speech.

“I want to thank my dear friend Giuliani, who conducted himself with all the qualities of the true leader that he is. Thank you for all that you have added to this race and for being an inspirational American.”

As for Huckabee, he pledged to stay in the fight.

“We are playing all nine innings of this ballgame,” Huckabee told supporters in Missouri. “I am not sure everybody is going to be there [at a GOP debate in California Wednesday],” Huckabee said in a thinly veiled swipe at Giuliani, “but I am sure going to be there.”