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Republicans in tight Florida vote Republicans in tight Florida vote
(9 minutes later)
Partial results put Mitt Romney and John McCain neck and neck in Florida, a key battle for Republicans seeking to run for president in November.Partial results put Mitt Romney and John McCain neck and neck in Florida, a key battle for Republicans seeking to run for president in November.
With votes still being counted, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who has staked his bid for the party nomination on Florida - was trailing in third.With votes still being counted, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who has staked his bid for the party nomination on Florida - was trailing in third.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was fourth, with 11% of votes counted. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was fourth, with 29% of votes counted.
US media have called a win for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic vote but it is a largely symbolic contest.US media have called a win for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic vote but it is a largely symbolic contest.
No delegates are at stake for the Democrats because the state's Democratic Party has been penalised by the national party for breaking rules on when it could hold its primary.No delegates are at stake for the Democrats because the state's Democratic Party has been penalised by the national party for breaking rules on when it could hold its primary.
We are going to win - of course, if you don't win, you figure out another strategy Rudy Giuliani Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primaryFlorida primary in pictures What is a primary?We are going to win - of course, if you don't win, you figure out another strategy Rudy Giuliani Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primaryFlorida primary in pictures What is a primary?
For the Republican hopefuls, 57 delegates are at stake in the winner-takes-all primary. For the Republican hopefuls, 57 delegates are at stake in the winner-takes-all primary - the biggest prize of the primary season so far.
They will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen.They will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen.
The Florida victor will also gain crucial momentum ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states vote.The Florida victor will also gain crucial momentum ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states vote.
Mr Giuliani, who has focused almost his entire campaign so far on Florida, has been hoping the opinion polls that have him trailing well behind the two front-runners would prove wrong. With 29% of the vote counted, Mr McCain edged Mr Romney by 34% to 33%, too close to call a likely winner, and Mr Giuliani trailed in third with 15% to Mr Huckabee's 14%.
Mr Giuliani, who has focused almost his entire campaign so far on Florida, had been hoping that pre-vote opinion polls putting him well behind the two front-runners would prove wrong.
Mr Giuliani has insisted that he expects to win the primary - but if that does not prove the case, it could spell the end for his campaign, analysts say.Mr Giuliani has insisted that he expects to win the primary - but if that does not prove the case, it could spell the end for his campaign, analysts say.
"You don't contemplate losing it. That isn't something you do on the day of a primary," he said. "You don't contemplate losing it. That isn't something you do on the day of a primary," he said. "We are going to win. Of course if you don't win, you figure out another strategy."
"We are going to win. Of course if you don't win, you figure out another strategy."
He declined to elaborate on earlier remarks that he would make a decision on the future of his campaign on Wednesday morning.He declined to elaborate on earlier remarks that he would make a decision on the future of his campaign on Wednesday morning.
Hard-hitHard-hit
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Miami says that the state of the economy is the main issue for voters in Florida.The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Miami says that the state of the economy is the main issue for voters in Florida.
John McCain is keen to build on his win in South Carolina 10 days agoJohn McCain is keen to build on his win in South Carolina 10 days ago
The state has been hit hard by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and the candidate that offers the best solution could gain a decisive edge, our correspondent says.The state has been hit hard by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and the candidate that offers the best solution could gain a decisive edge, our correspondent says.
Of the two Republican front-runners, Mr McCain has focused on national security and has strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state.Of the two Republican front-runners, Mr McCain has focused on national security and has strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state.
Mr Romney, a former businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.Mr Romney, a former businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.
The two clashed again on Tuesday, with Mr Romney highlighting his greater business experience compared to that of Mr McCain, the senator for Arizona.The two clashed again on Tuesday, with Mr Romney highlighting his greater business experience compared to that of Mr McCain, the senator for Arizona.
"If you want somebody who understands how Washington works, elect the other guy, but if you want somebody who knows how the economy works, elect me," he told supporters."If you want somebody who understands how Washington works, elect the other guy, but if you want somebody who knows how the economy works, elect me," he told supporters.
Meanwhile, Mr McCain focused on his own national security credentials.Meanwhile, Mr McCain focused on his own national security credentials.
"Who is it that has got the experience and background and knowledge to take on the challenge of radical Islamic extremism? Governor Romney has no experience there," he said."Who is it that has got the experience and background and knowledge to take on the challenge of radical Islamic extremism? Governor Romney has no experience there," he said.
On Monday, the two candidates accused each other of having liberal tendencies.
Mr Romney attacked Mr McCain for legislation reducing the role of money in politics, for his position on immigration and for his support for an energy bill that he said would have driven up consumer costs.
Mr McCain responded by accusing Mr Romney of being a "liberal governor" of Massachusetts with a record of economic mismanagement.
Democratic rowDemocratic row
None of the Democratic candidates have campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early.None of the Democratic candidates have campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early.
The state's Democratic leadership had moved the date forward in an attempt to give the result there more weight.The state's Democratic leadership had moved the date forward in an attempt to give the result there more weight.
Senator Hillary Clinton has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and was due to arrive in Florida after the polls closed. Mrs Clinton has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and was due to arrive in Florida after the polls closed.
She is also keen to see the delegates reinstated in Michigan - a state she won, as the only major candidate on the ballot, but which has been stripped of its delegates in the same way as Florida.She is also keen to see the delegates reinstated in Michigan - a state she won, as the only major candidate on the ballot, but which has been stripped of its delegates in the same way as Florida.
However, Senator Barack Obama, her chief rival, told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before".However, Senator Barack Obama, her chief rival, told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before".
"Obviously I care a lot about the people in Michigan and a lot about the people in Florida," he said. "And I want their votes in the general election. We'll be actively campaigning for them.""Obviously I care a lot about the people in Michigan and a lot about the people in Florida," he said. "And I want their votes in the general election. We'll be actively campaigning for them."
Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state, where he visited the town of El Dorado, the hometown of his maternal grandfather.Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state, where he visited the town of El Dorado, the hometown of his maternal grandfather.
He also picked up the endorsement of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who delivered the Democratic response to President George W Bush's State of the Union address on Monday.He also picked up the endorsement of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who delivered the Democratic response to President George W Bush's State of the Union address on Monday.