Campaign Trail Runs Through Florida

The Sunshine State Is Gaining Importance, And Giuliani Is Flying South

(CBS)  You can ask anyone: getting to the White House starts with trudging through the harsh Iowa and New Hampshire winters.

But now, there's something new under the sun, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports.

And it’s not because of those famous hanging chads.

By moving his primary up in the calendar, Florida state Republican Chairman Jim Greer finds himself in a battle to influence the nominee. It will be the first big delegate prize of Campaign '08, with 57 at stake, more than Iowa and New Hampshire combined.

"All of the states are taking a look at being relevant, but Florida's going to be the most relevant," Greer said. "But florida will be the most relevant this coming election."

Why does he say that?

"Because New Hampshire and Iowa, he could lose, those states come in second, come to Florida, win Florida, win great momentum, move into February 5 and win the nomination," he said. "I believe that Florida is going to determine the republican nominee for president."

No one takes this new reality more seriously than the Republican frontrunner. Rudy Giuliani is doing what most New Yorkers snowbirds do, he's spending much of his winter in Florida, home to 1.5 million former New Yorkers.

Yesterday's pit stop at a NASCAR event was his 20th visit. He's only been to Iowa 15 times.

"It feels almost like home," Giuliani said.

“I believe who wins Florida will win the Republican nomination,” Giuliani said while campaigning in Florida. “It feels almost like home.”

His strategy has him far behind in Iowa and New Hampshire, where Mitt Romney has a sizeable lead.

"If Rudy doesn't do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, he's not going to do well in Florida," said Republican strategist Michael Murphy. "Florida won't sait for him. Florida waits for nobody."

If history serves as any lesson, the Giuliani camp has reason to be nervous.

Iowa and New Hampshire may carry little in the way of delegates, but they do mean momentum. John Kerry was polling at 4 percent before winning both in 2004, afterwards, 53 percent.

By ignoring the past, Giuliani hopes to make a little history himself. By flying south for some of the winter, he hopes voters will consider this early-bird special.

“Thank God for Florida,” he said. "Thank you."