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| McCain wins key Florida election | McCain wins key Florida election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| John McCain has won a close victory in Florida in the battle to become the Republican candidate for US president. | John McCain has won a close victory in Florida in the battle to become the Republican candidate for US president. |
| The Arizona senator narrowly beat Mitt Romney in the primary election to gain the upper hand ahead of next week's crucial polls in 24 states. | |
| Media reports suggest former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who based his campaign on winning in Florida - may endorse Mr McCain and drop out. | Media reports suggest former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who based his campaign on winning in Florida - may endorse Mr McCain and drop out. |
| Hillary Clinton won a largely symbolic victory in the Democratic vote. | Hillary Clinton won a largely symbolic victory in the Democratic vote. |
| 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. |
| 'Getting close' | 'Getting close' |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Orlando says Mr McCain's win probably makes him a slight front-runner going into Super Tuesday - but the closeness of the margin may also encourage Mr Romney. | |
| I don't back down from a principle fight, but there must always be a larger purpose Rudy Giuliani class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7216834.stm">Lost gamble class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7216800.stm">In quotes: Reaction class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7216375.stm">Florida primary in pictures href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7170000/newsid_7175500?redirect=7175528.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">What is a primary? Observers can expect things to be equally tight on Super Tuesday, our correspondent adds. | |
| With 97% of the vote counted, Mr McCain led Mr Romney by 36% to 31%. | |
| The result means Mr McCain will take all 57 delegates in what is a winner-takes-all primary - the biggest prize of the primary season so far. | |
| The delegates will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen. | The delegates will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen. |
| Speaking to cheering supporters at a rally in Miami, Mr McCain said: "Our victory might not have reached landslide proportions, but it was sweet nonetheless." | Speaking to cheering supporters at a rally in Miami, Mr McCain said: "Our victory might not have reached landslide proportions, but it was sweet nonetheless." |
| He said he believed he would win the Republican nomination and would go on to win "against anyone the Democratic Party nominates". | He said he believed he would win the Republican nomination and would go on to win "against anyone the Democratic Party nominates". |
| "Tonight, my friends, we celebrate but tomorrow it's back to work. We have a ways to go but we are getting close." | "Tonight, my friends, we celebrate but tomorrow it's back to work. We have a ways to go but we are getting close." |
| FLORIDA PRIMARY: RESULTS Republicans John McCain: 36%Mitt Romney: 31%Rudy Giuliani: 15%Mike Huckabee: 14% Democrats Hillary Clinton: 50%Barack Obama: 33%John Edwards: 14% | |
| Date of primary: 29 January With 97% of vote counted Election polltrackerFull state profileQ&A: US primary electionsQ&A: Florida primary | |
| Mr McCain's Florida victory follows a win for the Arizona senator in South Carolina 10 days ago and another in New Hampshire on 8 January. | Mr McCain's Florida victory follows a win for the Arizona senator in South Carolina 10 days ago and another in New Hampshire on 8 January. |
| In campaigning, Mr McCain focused on national security and had the benefit of strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state. | In campaigning, Mr McCain focused on national security and had the benefit of strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state. |
| Mr Romney, speaking in St Petersburg, Florida, said he had telephoned Mr McCain to offer his congratulations. | Mr Romney, speaking in St Petersburg, Florida, said he had telephoned Mr McCain to offer his congratulations. |
| A former businessman and ex-governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy. | A former businessman and ex-governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy. |
| He said he would be appearing at the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday night. | He said he would be appearing at the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday night. |
| Giuliani's future | Giuliani's future |
| Mr Giuliani - who had put almost all his effort into campaigning in Florida - was in third place with about 15%. | Mr Giuliani - who had put almost all his effort into campaigning in Florida - was in third place with about 15%. |
| Mike Huckabee said his campaign was far from over Huckabee defiant | Mike Huckabee said his campaign was far from over Huckabee defiant |
| Speaking to his supporters, he congratulated his opponents on running a "hard-fought campaign". | Speaking to his supporters, he congratulated his opponents on running a "hard-fought campaign". |
| He was non-committal about his own future in the race but officials have been quoted as saying he intends to endorse Mr McCain for the nomination on Wednesday. | He was non-committal about his own future in the race but officials have been quoted as saying he intends to endorse Mr McCain for the nomination on Wednesday. |
| Mr Giuliani said: "I don't back down from a principle fight, but there must always be a larger purpose. | |
| "Elections are about a lot more than just a candidate. Elections are about fighting for a cause larger than ourselves." | "Elections are about a lot more than just a candidate. Elections are about fighting for a cause larger than ourselves." |
| Mike Huckabee, who won in Iowa but needed a good result in Florida to keep him in contention, was fourth with about 13%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul was fifth with about 3% of the vote. | Mike Huckabee, who won in Iowa but needed a good result in Florida to keep him in contention, was fourth with about 13%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul was fifth with about 3% of the vote. |
| Mr Huckabee thanked his activists in Florida and said of his campaign: "It's not even close to being over. We like to believe we are just getting started." | Mr Huckabee thanked his activists in Florida and said of his campaign: "It's not even close to being over. We like to believe we are just getting started." |
| Democratic row | Democratic row |
| None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early. | None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early. |
| But Hillary Clinton - who has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and seated at the national convention - held a victory rally in Davie, Florida, as the results came in. | But Hillary Clinton - who has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and seated at the national convention - held a victory rally in Davie, Florida, as the results came in. |
| Mrs Clinton held a victory rally - but the win brings no delegates Clinton in Florida With 91% of the vote counted, she was winning by 50% to chief rival Barack Obama's 33%, with John Edwards in third with 15%. | Mrs Clinton held a victory rally - but the win brings no delegates Clinton in Florida With 91% of the vote counted, she was winning by 50% to chief rival Barack Obama's 33%, with John Edwards in third with 15%. |
| She told supporters: "I am thrilled to have had this vote of confidence that you have given me today and I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida's Democratic delegates seated, but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008." | She told supporters: "I am thrilled to have had this vote of confidence that you have given me today and I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida's Democratic delegates seated, but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008." |
| Mr Obama told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before". | Mr Obama told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before". |
| Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state. | Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state. |
| 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. |