McCain Wins Fla., Giuliani To Drop Out

Ariz. Senator Gets Key Win; CBS News Confirms Giuliani Will Back McCain; Edwards To Drop Out

(CBS/AP)  Arizona Senator John McCain will win the Florida Republican primary, beating former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in a key contest one week before Super Tuesday.

After a disappointing finish behind the leaders, CBS News confirms that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected to drop out of the race Wednesday in Los Angeles and will endorse McCain at a joint apperance at 6 p.m. ET. (Read more on what happened to Giuliani's campaign)

Democrat John Edwards also exited the race Wednesday with an announcement in New Orleans.

With all precincts reporting, McCain got 36 percent and Romney got 31 percent of the vote. Giuliani got 15 percent in the state he staked his campaign on and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee got 14 percent. Texas Rep. Ron Paul was far behind with three percent.

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Complete Florida Returns

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In the Democratic race, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton got 50 percent of the vote, with Sen. Barack Obama coming in second with 33 percent. Edwards, a former senator, trailed with 14 percent. However, that contest drew no significant attention by any of the contenders - and awarded no delegates to the winner after national party officials stripped the state of its delegates because it scheduled the primary before Feb. 5. (Read more on the Democrats in Florida and Clinton's reaction to her win)

For Republicans the contest offers the state's 57 delegates to this summer's Republican national convention and a big burst of energy in the weeklong sprint to Super Tuesday. A total of 1,191 delegates are needed to secure the Republican nomination.

"It shows one thing. I'm the conservative leader who can unite the party," McCain said after the win in the hard-fought contest. (Watch McCain video)

"It's a very significant boost, but I think we've got a tough week ahead and a lot of states to come," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

According to CBS News exit polls, McCain's Florida coalition was made up of voters he has counted on many times before - party mavericks. He received substantial support from groups like independents, seculars, pro-choice voters, and those Republicans dissatisfied with the Bush administration. Voters' economic concerns also helped propel him to a win. (Read more analysis on why McCain won)

"It may not have been a landslide for Senator McCain," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs, "but it was a big win that thrusts him into the driver's seat in this race. McCain becomes the first candidate in either party to win back-to-back victories in big, contested contests. That he finally won one in a Republican-only primary is sweet icing on the cake for a candidate with vocal critics in his own party."

Giuliani ran third, his best showing of the campaign but not nearly good enough for the one-time front-runner who decided to make his last stand in a state that is home to tens of thousands of transplanted New Yorkers.

In remarks to supporters in Orlando, the former New York mayor referred to his candidacy repeatedly in the past tense - as though it were over. "We'll stay involved and together we'll make sure that we'll do everything we can to hand our nation off to the next generation better than it was before," he said. (Watch Giuliani video)

Later, CBS News confirmed he is expected to drop out of the race Wednesday.

Romney, who has spent millions of dollars of his personal fortune to run for the White House, vowed to stay in the race.

"At a time like this, America needs a president in the White House who has actually had a job in the real economy," he told supporters in St. Petersburg. (Watch Romney video)

Romney ran 4,475 television commercials in Florida through the last week to McCain's 470, reports CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer.

Appearing on CBS' The Early Show the morning after his second-place finish, Romney said he thought Giuliani's expected endorsement of McCain could end up benefiting him more than the Arizona senator.

"I respect the fact that the mayor wants to endorse somebody who he long ago said he favored," Romney said. "But I think Rudy Giuliani voters are going to want somebody who's run something and has shown a level of competence in doing so. And I think you're going to see that some of those votes will go to McCain but some will stay with me. And I think it's hard for a candidate to actually direct voters as to where they go next. I think they make their own mind up."

Florida marked the end of one phase of the campaign, the last in a series of single-state contests.

The campaign goes national next week, with 21 states holding primaries and caucuses on Tuesday and 1,023 party convention delegates at stake.

"A friendly landscape in the upcoming Super Tuesday states must have the McCain campaign smiling tonight," CBSNews.com's Ververs added. "But Mitt Romney's deep pockets and formidable campaign machine can't be discounted. This is still a two-person contest, with 'contest' being the operative word." (Read more analysis on the race)

[gunownerdan]

I used to think the term "honest politician" was an oxy-moron. That was before I heard of Dr. Ron Paul. No wonder the corporate-owned media has blacked-out his campaign. He is a threat to the fascist elites who have hijacked both parties. Ron Paul also has a rock-solid voting record in congress of protecting and defending the constitution so I guess that''s another reason why his campaign is ignored by the media. I remember seeing two stories recently about Ron Pual on both CBS and NBC news about how prostitutes in Nevada brothels are all for him. The establishment will stop at nothing to make him look as bad as possible!
ronpaul2008.com

[ontheleft]

Go McCain! He''s the best hope for the Democrats. He''s pro-amnesty on immigration, so that takes that issue out of the election. He''s an old geyser that represents the establishment. 70% of Americans want a change. McCain is not change. He will lose. Go McCain!

[merlgrey]

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul%u2019s campaign has been endorsed by legendary folk singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie.

Guthrie, known for a series of hits including "Alice%u2019s Restaurant," issued the following endorsement of Dr. Paul:

"I love this guy. Dr. Paul is the only candidate I know of who would have signed the Constitution of The United States had he been there. I''m with him, because he seems to be the only candidate who actually believes it has as much relevance today as it did a couple of hundred years ago. I look forward to the day when we can work out the differences we have with the same revolutionary vision and enthusiasm that is our American legacy."

does the opinion of active duty militery people mean anything? Why has Ron Paul received more donations from active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines than any other Democratic or Republican presidential candidate?

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/veterans/

[tulcak]

they are calling each other democrats? liberals? why do they insist on complementing each other... this is a fantasy.. they are both status quo, stay the course republicans... same ole same ole...

[mcvet]

Neither one of them will be worth a dam.


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Posted by cbscrash07 at 02:33 PM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

I''ll give you odds on that one Sparky!! My bet is you folks will be as wrong about Hillary as you were about her husband. He promised to balance the budget and he handed over a government to the GOP when he left office with A balanced budget AND a surplus. He also had more stature in the world than Bush has in Texas.

[mbcsmith]

McCain will win the nomination and the independant vote in November making him the president. The country will not vote for Obama/Clinton as too polarizing.

[antoniof123]

Posted by MCVet at 02:47 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Agreed MCVet Bill Clinton was the best President this country has seen in over 50 years maybe more. The fact that the GOP is running scared because Hillary may win shows it.

If she wins and does say just a little better than chimp boy it will be the end of the GOP for a long time to come.

[forrestlayne]

Listen to how he acts..this is a "President"??????? Interview with Romney pushes Mark Larsen to support Ron Paul http://youtube.com/watch?v=6lAFfLy05_Y

[denn034]

Go Romney.

[enoughya]

McCain has that arrogant smug look, just like Bush. His morals are as deficient as Bush''s; McCain abetted the savings and loan scandal by taking bribes from one of the big criminals, at the taxpayers expense (Keating 5). Why anyone with such blatant abuse of power would even be considered for the top White House job is way beyond me. America needs to wake up to these criminal thugs, like Bush and McCain--you can see them coming from 200 miles away, if you only open your eyes a little. Besides, McCain''s further lawlessness can be seen in his bill that would have granted immunity for 10s of millions of illegal aliens, and he has licked Bush''s boots in going along with Bush''s criminal acts, like torturing detainees and the abuses of the war in Iraq. On top of all that McCain is an adulterer, again showing his lack of moral judgement. Why would any person in his right mind be considering this McCain thug for president of the USA? Certainly proves that there are a fair share of gullible dullards in the ellectorate. Hopefully all Americans will eventually wake up to these criminals and scam artists who just want to usurp power, rather than govern morally and wisely. McCain should not even be in the running.

[mcvet]

McCain will win the nomination and the independant vote in November making him the president. The country will not vote for Obama/Clinton as too polarizing.


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Posted by mbcsmith at 02:53 PM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL That would be insane! Vote for a Party that has given us this mess? I sure hope this nation isn''t THAT stupid... I don''t think so. There''s a new Generation out there coming along and they are out to change things. I remember when that Generation was my generation, which by the way will be taking over. Nope, change is on it''s way and a new sun is about to rise.

[mbcsmith]

Posted by MCVet at 03:23 PM : Jan 29, 2008

That new generation has historicly never shown at the polls. McCain is aware of this though. See him on MTV? He did a decent job fielding questions from that same live audience of young voters and received decent applause for his responses.

[mudrose-2009]

McCain will win the nomination and the independant vote in November making him the president. The country will not vote for Obama/Clinton as too polarizing.

Posted by mbcsmith

You''re probably right. With all the babyboomers they aren''t going to give their lives over to Clinton/Obama. As far as the younger generation is concerned, you can thank you parents for making sure you are a very sparce group of upcomers. After all, woman''s rights, abortions, divorce, single-parent families, don''t really give you much of a majority now does it?

[hillaryin08]

LOL That would be insane! Vote for a Party that has given us this mess? I sure hope this nation isn''''t THAT stupid... I don''''t think so. There''''s a new Generation out there coming along and they are out to change things. I remember when that Generation was my generation, which by the way will be taking over. Nope, change is on it''''s way and a new sun is about to rise.


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Posted by MCVet at 03:23 PM : Jan 29, 2008

I guess your too stupid to realize that your party is handing the GOP the Presidency as we speek. Thanks in part to the Clintons. America will vote against Socialism as they always have this November. Dont worry, I heard Al-quida is looking for a few good men. May I suggest suicide bomber?

[antoniof123]

McCain will win the nomination and the independant vote in November making him the president. The country will not vote for Obama/Clinton as too polarizing.


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Posted by mbcsmith at 02:53 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Hate to tell you this but in Florida we don''t allow open ballots as well as most if not all of the battle ground states.

Plus remember that Clinton took Florida twice with those independent votes.

Looks like you boys talk real big but I know that inside you are scared like little rats.

[mbcsmith]

Looks like you boys talk real big but I know that inside you are scared like little rats.


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Posted by antoniof123 at 03:39 PM : Jan 29, 2008


If you READ the post, it says independants in November. Actually, Clinton is the best chance for a Republican victory. Her negative ratings are through the roof.

[edward1975-2009]

antoniof123: Who are you kidding, Bill Clinton was one of America''s best presidents. He was corrupt as a governor and as a president. He is lucky he wasn''t tried for treason and sent to Club Fed. With thinking like that, your part of the problem.

[news4all]

If McCain fooled Florida with his lies about Romney, it will be a sad day for America.
He uses the military as a shield when confronted with his lies. He was a hero in Vietnam, but that was a long time ago. He has proven himself to be a dishonest man with a hot-tempered disposition ever since then. He is fixated on war and can''t see the larger picture. Our economy needs to be fixed if we are to help our troops and strengthen our defense.

Romney is the only candidate with the education, experience, integrity, self-control, leadership ability, and vision that can fix the economy. He knows how to call the experts in on all the other issues as well and has a track record to prove it (as governor, in business and at the Olympics).

[mbcsmith]

Posted by mudrose at 03:28 PM : Jan 29, 2008

That''s "we" my friend. I''m not actually promoting McCain, just a little observation. ANYONE but Hilldog or Barrack HUSSEIN Obama.

[hillaryin08]

Liberals, Socialist, Marxist, Comunists and General Anarchists

Your too stupid to realize that your party is handing the GOP the Presidency as we speek. Thanks in part to the Clintons. America will vote against Socialism as they always have this November. Dont worry, I heard Al-quida is looking for a few good men. May I suggest suicide bomber? Plenty of AK-47''''s availible too. Like new and only dropped once.

Go Obamma Go

[mudrose-2009]

If you READ the post, it says independants in November. Actually, Clinton is the best chance for a Republican victory. Her negative ratings are through the roof.

Posted by mbcsmith

They''re even worse now since she and Bubba tried to blindside Obama by making him a darkie. They did a great job. That put Obama right up on the charts and gave him some sweet endorsements.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by news4all

Hey take heart even his own mother says we''d have to hold our noses to vote for McCain.

[zlicdic]

It''s too bad Quantrell didn''t finish the job!

[mudrose-2009]

It''''s too bad Quantrell didn''''t finish the job!
Posted by zlicdic

Sure he did. You''ve just got to many monikers you throw yourself out of the loop and lose sight of who win or lost.

[mbcsmith]

That put Obama right up on the charts and gave him some sweet endorsements.


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Posted by mudrose at 03:53 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Yeah, that lady killer Kennedy will probably get him a few votes in the northeast. Why do people keep putting that murderer in office?

[gunownerdan]

RexProphet,
Unfortunately it seems that the whitehouse is not available to someone who follows the constitution.
Just look at the "media blackout" for Ron Paul''s campaign.

[piercetheval]

zlicdic...Quantrell is running?

[inventagod]

Diebold stock just shot up today, Hmmmm....

[stezzer]

The major economies of the western world are about to hit the skids, big time. People will lose their jobs and their homes.

Mitt Romney has the proven fiscal record to deal with it. Everything else about the man is irrelevant.

[gunownerdan]

"It''s not who votes that counts, it''s who counts the votes."
Joseph Stalin

[clestes-2009]

Well maybe this will finally narrow the field! It has been just a guessing game so far.

Craziest election I ever saw. Right now it is still a toss up on all sides.

[news4all]

The ABC news site today reports that McCain has the most lobbyists and has not disclosed the amount of money he has received. McCain has made himself the worst able to change Washington now that he is bought and paid for by his "friends".

[marcodele]

Has the Bush family decided who wins Florida yet?

[alabamabob1]

Florida voters have a key input in this critical election. This is a battle over whether the GOP will be %u201Cconservative%u201D and vote for Romney or %u201Cliberal%u201D and vote for McCain. Do not lose the basic fact in the clutter of words going back and forth on the campaign trail. Rush Limbaugh is right-on when he says that McCain could ruin the Republican Party with his liberal ideas if elected. See www.rushlimbaugh.com

[cbscensorsus]

WERE SUPPOSE TO BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR

DRAFTDOGER ROMNEY, DEMOCRAT Mc CAIN,
or

I DIDN''T WANT TO LEAVE OFFICE (let the next guy take office)
BECAUSE OF 911 GIULIAN???
(is the CHARACTERISTICS we look for in a President, I don''t think so, that is called a DICTATOR)

[twainharte1]

Do any of you automatons really think your silly little opinion or vote counts? Did any of you choose our wonderful field of candidates? No matter who gets elected, will your life change dramatically? Get real! We are just all small insignificant cogs in the big machine, until we once again become cosmic dust!

[alabamabob1]

The power is in the people and every vote counts. Vote for Romney who is a conservative, a family man who is still married to his wife, and one smart guy in business and the economy. Think positive - Vote for Romney!! your vote counts Life is good!

[adventuremom]

If the Florida Demoratic Primary doesn''t count, how will they choose Florida delegates to the convention?

[skyk-2009]

Do any of you automatons really think your silly little opinion or vote counts? Did any of you choose our wonderful field of candidates? No matter who gets elected, will your life change dramatically? Get real! We are just all small insignificant cogs in the big machine, until we once again become cosmic dust!


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Posted by TWAINHARTE1 at 05:46 PM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse

Wow! Can you imagine what would have happened if those who came before us had been like this. I''m so tired of "Can''t" and "Won''t". Can''t didn''t pass Social Security when getting old was a death sentence. Won''t didn''t stop lynching in Missippi. How many times have we changed the world? With the attitude of this MORON we never elect the first Catholic President and we do not get to the moon when we did... Maybe we still haven''t made it. Yes we do matter and Yes those that run for office do make a difference. We have a very clear choice, to vote with the status quo and NOT do anything about Health Care, about all the Communities ripped apart by exported jobs... we can continue to do that OR we can step up and CHANGE the world. We''ve done it before and we can do it again!!

[robertr121]

If the economy is in bad shape due to to seven years of reckless and inept stewardship of our countries wealth by the republicans what''s the answer? Well, elect another republican of course. Makes sense to me.

[enoughya]

McCain has that arrogant smug look, just like Bush. His morals are as deficient as Bush''s; McCain abetted the savings and loan scandal by taking bribes from one of the big criminals, at the taxpayers expense (Keating 5). Why anyone with such blatant abuse of power would even be considered for the top White House job is way beyond me. America needs to wake up to these criminal thugs, like Bush and McCain--you can see them coming from 200 miles away, if you only open your eyes a little. Besides, McCain''s further lawlessness can be seen in his bill that would have granted immunity for 10s of millions of illegal aliens, and he has licked Bush''s boots in going along with Bush''s criminal acts, like torturing detainees and the abuses of the war in Iraq. On top of all that McCain is an adulterer, again showing his lack of moral judgement. Why would any person in his right mind be considering this McCain thug for president of the USA? Certainly proves that there are a fair share of gullible dullards in the ellectorate. Hopefully all Americans will eventually wake up to these criminals and scam artists who just want to usurp power, rather than govern morally and wisely. McCain should not even be in the running.

[feelfree1]

Florida officials seem to have an awful lot of trouble counting votes. I wonder if we can hope for an accurate count this time?

[blinta]

I was disappointed not to find my candidate listed in the article, again. CBS News, like so many others, have been slipping on providing full coverage of the news, not just elections. I am beginning to more than take offense, so will ask to please step up your game if you want to keep my interest.

[feelfree1]

OOOooooo....it''s not looking good for Mr. Ghouliani, right out of the chute, but Ron Paul is starting out with 5% of the vote.

[feelfree1]

What is funny about the Democrat primary here, is that it will not award any delegates, since the right wing DNC chose to punish them for moving up their primary date. Democrats in Florida are effectively voiceless in this election.

Ironically, the most right-wing of the candidates, Hillary Clinton, is starting out way ahead in the results, but due to the heavy-handed tactics of the DNC, here delegate tally here will be zero.

It''s funny when fascists shoot themselves in the foot.

[feelfree1]

McCain is probably putting on a fresh diaper...in case he wins.

Either way, really...he just wants to be at his best for this.

[pensacola88]

Mitt Rommey is Morman. Mormons don''t accept blacks in their church easily. When they recruit, Mormons turn away from households whose members are black or mixed black. I have seen it personally...many times.

No one has confronted Rommey on national tv about racism in his personal views or his political experience with racial diversity.

A vote for Rommey is a step 40 years backwards for this nation.

Rommey is a sleeping racist candidate.

[cfin5]

SgtRDS,.....Ron Paul''s currently the only candidate from either side who has his personal life act together more so than the other candidates from either side combined. His example is something that a lot of folks look up to and I hope that when I''m his age, mine will mirror his path,.....all the way! I see no peace of mind in the lifestyle chosen by the other candidates for the most part. Especially in Constitutional matters. If Ron Paul can govern his own life with integrity and decency, then he''s able to govern our country in like manner. These are traits that I do not see even in Pastor Huckabee according to his own public record. Speaking of pastors and/or church goers (I am not), some of the MEANEST people I have ever met in my life use the name of Christ for gain. However, some of the NICEST people I''ve ever met attend church regularly too. In all this I''ve said, I mean no disrespect for your stand in life regarding God''s existence. For me though, he promised that he would never leave me, nor that the world wouldn''t treat me any different than they did him.

[sgtrds]

But Ron Paul is nuts. If he ever was actually able to do the things he wants (pull ALL of our troops home from everywhere in the world, eliminate all taxes, etc) the nation would be a disaster zone.

[canyoutellme-2009]

McCain is winning in FLA... can anyone guess why?? could it be because perhaps he''s OLD? and tons of Floridians are OLD? HUGE place for retirees... it really is THAT simple.

Mrs Clinton is #1 for Dems even tho'' no delegates from Fla for Dems. It''s still dumb that anyone would vote for her.

GO OBAMA.