"Polls and predictions have been wrong," Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani declared on a visit to a Miami delicatessen, referring to forecasts that he will finish in third or fourth place in the Florida primary. Meanwhile, the pollsters' favourite, John McCain, campaigned in St Petersburg with state governor Charlie Crist at his side. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is expected to host a public rally in a south Florida town after polls close, ending a five-month Democratic boycott on campaigning in the state.
John McCain wins Florida's Republican primary, beating Mitt Romney into second, and becoming a formidable favourite to win the party's nomination. Rudy Giuliani's poor third-place finish leads many to predict that he will shortly be withdrawing from the race. Hillary Clinton wins the - largely symbolic - Democratic contest in Florida.
"You don't contemplate losing it. That isn't something you do on the day of a primary." Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on why he is refusing to think the worst.
"Thank you, Florida Republicans, for bringing a former Florida resident across the finish line first in - as I have been repeatedly reminded lately - an all Republican primary." John McCain celebrates his victory.
They don't like their candidates, they are getting tired of their president, and Talk Radio keeps yelling at them in between the candidates yelling at each other Daily Kos.com At-a-glance: 28 Jan
Obama, Hillary tie for delegates in Florida tonight with 0 each Obama campaign email At-a-glance: 28 Jan
"Who is it that has got the experience and background andknowledge to take on the challenge of radical Islamicextremism? Governor [Mitt] Romney has no experience there."Presidential candidate John McCain attacks his rival as polling stations open.
"Like most Americans I love competition. I don't back down from a principal fight, but there must always be a larger purpose."Rudy Giuliani
"The over-65 set can make or break a candidate in Florida. Senior citizens are a political army, making up about 19% of Florida's population and roughly 40% of the vote, due to their extraordinarily high turnout rates at the polls."Lisa Lerer, Politico.com
"I am convinced that with this resounding vote, with the millions of Americans who will vote next Tuesday, we will send a clear message that America is back and we will take charge of our destiny once again."Hillary Clinton
"What is extraordinary is how enthusiastic about this primary election Florida's voters appear to be. By Sunday, more than 400,000 Democrats had already cast early ballots - four times more than voted early in 2004."New York Times
"Obama, Hillary tie for delegates in Florida tonight with 0 each."Barack Obama campaign email
"Assuming Clinton wins tonight, it's a smart tactical decision on her part to try and get as much media mileage as she can out of today's meaningless beauty contest."Tom Levan, RealClearPolitics.com
"Pity the GOP voter. They don't like their candidates, they are getting tired of their president, and Talk Radio keeps yelling at them in between the candidates yelling at each other."Daily Kos.com, on the infighting between Republican Party candidates.
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Polls released on Tuesday confirm earlier indications that Arizona Senator John McCain is in the lead for the Republican nomination and that Rudy Giuliani's high-risk strategy has not paid off.
John McCain received 36% of the vote in Florida to Mitt Romney's 31%.
A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll gives Mr McCain 35% with Mitt Romney narrowly on his heels at 31%. Mr Giuliani and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee are tied for third place with 13% each.
Rudy Giuliani trailed in third with 15%, only just ahead of Mike Huckabee on 14%.
A Rasmussen telephone survey gives the two leading candidates the same level of support but suggests that Mr Giuliani may have a small lead on Mr Huckabee, with 16% to his 11%.
In the Democratic contest, Hillary Clinton took 50%, to Barack Obama's 33% and John Edwards's 14%.
Turnout across both primaries was estimated at around three million, with some 1.4 million Democrats and 1.6 million Republicans casting ballots.
DAILY PICTURE
DAILY PICTURE
Palm trees soar into the Florida sunshine near a polling station in the US state whose mild climate draws an ageing population
John McCain will go into the contests on Super Tuesday as a decent favourite to win his party's nomination
