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Republicans hold key Florida vote Republicans hold key Florida vote
(about 3 hours later)
Republicans in Florida are voting in a crucial primary election for the candidate they want to represent their party in the US presidential race. Voting is under way in Florida in a key contest for Republicans to decide who they want to be their party's candidate in November's US presidential election.
Polls suggest John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck and neck, with Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani trailing.Polls suggest John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck and neck, with Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani trailing.
Mr Giuliani, a former New York mayor who led national Republican polls for months, has staked his bid for the party nomination on winning Florida. Former New York Mayor Mr Giuliani, who led national Republican polls for months, has staked his bid for the party nomination on winning Florida.
Democrats are also voting in a contest that is mostly symbolic. The Democratic election is mostly symbolic after an internal party row.
My opponents are fighting each other, calling each other names - let them do that. We're not going to call anybody names Rudy Giuliani What is a primary? Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primary We are going to win - of course, if you don't win, you figure out another strategy Rudy Giuliani What is a primary? Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primary
None of the Democratic candidates have campaigned in this state after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early - a move seen as an effort to give the result there more weight. For the Republican hopefuls, 57 delegates are at stake in the winner-takes-all primary.
But Senator Hillary Clinton has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and will arrive in Florida after polls close. They will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen.
But for the Republican race, analysts say this election will not only give the winner a huge number of electoral college votes but 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.
Giuliani battle Mr Giuliani, who has focused almost his entire campaign so far on Florida, will be hoping the opinion polls that have him trailing well behind the two front-runners prove to be wrong.
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Miami says that the economy is the issue dominating state residents' minds. Mr Giuliani has insisted that he expects to win the primary.
"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."
He declined to elaborate on earlier remarks that he would make a decision on the future of his campaign on Wednesday morning.
Hard-hit
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Miami says that the state of the economy is the main issue for voters in Florida.
Mr Romney has campaigned on the economyMr Romney has campaigned on the economy
Florida 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, Senator 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, has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.Mr Romney, a former businessman, has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.
On Monday the two candidates accused each other of having liberal tendencies as they made a final push for votes. On Monday, the two candidates accused each other of having liberal tendencies as they made a final push for votes.
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 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.
"If you want that kind of a liberal Democratic course as president, then you can vote for him," Mr Romney said."If you want that kind of a liberal Democratic course as president, then you can vote for him," Mr Romney said.
"But those three pieces of legislation, those aren't conservative, those aren't Republican, those are not the kind of leadership that we need as we go forward.""But those three pieces of legislation, those aren't conservative, those aren't Republican, those are not the kind of leadership that we need as we go forward."
Mr McCain responded by saying that "on every one of the issues he has attacked us on, Mitt Romney was for it before he was against it".Mr McCain responded by saying that "on every one of the issues he has attacked us on, Mitt Romney was for it before he was against it".
He accused Mr Romney of being a "liberal governor" of Massachusetts with a record of economic mismanagement.He accused Mr Romney of being a "liberal governor" of Massachusetts with a record of economic mismanagement.
Mr Giuliani, who insists he can still win in Florida, said he was focusing on positive goals. None of the Democratic candidates have campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early - a move seen as an effort to give the result there more weight.
"My opponents are fighting each other, calling each other names. Let them do that. We're not going to call anybody names." But Senator Hillary Clinton has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and will arrive in Florida after polls close at 1900 local time (2400GMT).