McCain, Clinton Win Florida

No surprises in Florida:

MIAMI — Senator John McCain edged out Mitt Romney to win the delegate-rich Florida primary on Tuesday night, solidifying his transformation from left-for-dead candidate to a front-runner and dealing a devastating blow to the presidential hopes of Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose distant finish here threatened to doom his candidacy.

Mr. McCain’s narrow victory showed he could win in a state where only Republicans were allowed to vote — not just in states like New Hampshire and South Carolina, where his earlier victories were fueled in part by independent voters. And in Florida, even a slim victory is sweet: the state awards its 57 delegates, the most of any contest yet, on a winner-take-all basis.

With 90 percent of the precincts reporting, Mr. McCain had 36 percent of the vote, Mr. Romney 31 percent, Mr. Giuliani 15 percent and Mike Huckabee 13 percent.

With Clinton taking 50% of doesn't-really-count Florida vote and with no surprises on the Republican side, the network news focused on Giuliani's potential as a McCain running mate. They took special note that Giuliani's recent campaigning has included no disparagement of his fellow Republicans. He is expected to endorse McCain at a Republican debate in California on Wednesday.