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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Giuliani quits White House race | Giuliani quits White House race |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has pulled out of the Republican race for the White House after disappointing primary results in Florida. | Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has pulled out of the Republican race for the White House after disappointing primary results in Florida. |
| Mr Giuliani announced in California he was giving his support to Arizona Senator John McCain. | Mr Giuliani announced in California he was giving his support to Arizona Senator John McCain. |
| Mr Giuliani, who came third in Florida, had skipped many previous contests. | Mr Giuliani, who came third in Florida, had skipped many previous contests. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Democrat John Edwards left the race, without backing any of his rivals, after failing to win a single party nomination contest. | Earlier on Wednesday, Democrat John Edwards left the race, without backing any of his rivals, after failing to win a single party nomination contest. |
| Mr Edwards contested Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and his native South Carolina, but failed to get higher than third place. | Mr Edwards contested Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and his native South Carolina, but failed to get higher than third place. |
| He told supporters in New Orleans, where he launched his latest White House bid in 2006: "It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path." | He told supporters in New Orleans, where he launched his latest White House bid in 2006: "It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path." |
| Rudy's gamble | Rudy's gamble |
| Mr Giuliani announced his withdrawal at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, where the remaining Republican candidates will go head-to-head in a televised debate later on Wednesday. | |
| This man is a national hero and I'm honoured by his friendship John McCain on Rudy Giuliani | |
| In a light-hearted news conference, he said he had thought he was the sort of person who had the qualities to make a good president of the United States, "but the voters made a different choice". | |
| "John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States," Mr Giuliani said. "He's an American hero and America could use heroes in the White House." | "John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States," Mr Giuliani said. "He's an American hero and America could use heroes in the White House." |
| He added that Mr McCain was a longstanding friend and he would campaign alongside him whenever and wherever he was needed. | He added that Mr McCain was a longstanding friend and he would campaign alongside him whenever and wherever he was needed. |
| Mr McCain returned the compliments, praising Mr Giuliani's leadership as mayor in the wake of the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001. | |
| He described his former rival as "my strong right arm and my partner". | |
| "This man is a national hero and I'm honoured by his friendship," he said. | |
| FLORIDA PRIMARY: RESULTS Republicans John McCain: 36%Mitt Romney: 31%Rudy Giuliani: 15%Mike Huckabee: 13%Ron Paul: 3% Democrats Hillary Clinton: 50%Barack Obama: 33%John Edwards: 14% With 99% of vote counted Edwards exit focuses raceMcCain's non-traditional winElection polltrackerQ&A: US primary elections | FLORIDA PRIMARY: RESULTS Republicans John McCain: 36%Mitt Romney: 31%Rudy Giuliani: 15%Mike Huckabee: 13%Ron Paul: 3% Democrats Hillary Clinton: 50%Barack Obama: 33%John Edwards: 14% With 99% of vote counted Edwards exit focuses raceMcCain's non-traditional winElection polltrackerQ&A: US primary elections |
| Mr Giuliani was seen by his supporters as a tough commander in chief, while other Republicans were weary of his attitude on social issues, like abortion. | |
| When he entered the race more than a year ago he led some national polls and had an impressive war chest. He is reported to have spent up to a million dollars a week on TV advertising in Florida alone. | When he entered the race more than a year ago he led some national polls and had an impressive war chest. He is reported to have spent up to a million dollars a week on TV advertising in Florida alone. |
| Correspondents say his decision to focus his efforts on Florida was always going to be either a stroke of political genius or an unwise gamble that would see him fall at the first hurdle. | Correspondents say his decision to focus his efforts on Florida was always going to be either a stroke of political genius or an unwise gamble that would see him fall at the first hurdle. |
| Mr Giuliani won 15% of the vote, behind Mr McCain with 36% and Mitt Romney with 31% and just ahead of Mike Huckabee who won 13%. | |