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Presidential campaign rumbles into Florida

Republicans Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney kept hammering each other on the economy and national security heading into the pivotal Florida primary yesterday that could solidify one man as the front-runner for the party's presidential nomination.

Critical phone calls, negative radio ads, and bitter personal exchanges marked the final hours before the primary. The contest offers the winner the state's 57 delegates to this summer's Republican national convention and a big burst of energy in the weeklong sprint to Super Tuesday on Feb. 5 when 20-plus states hold nominating contests with more than 1,000 delegates at stake.

Democrat Senator Barack Obama looked to close the gap with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton heading into next week's virtual national primary after securing the coveted endorsement of Senator Edward Kennedy.

"I feel change is in the air," Kennedy said in announcing his choice on Monday.

The Massachusetts senator is expected to campaign for Obama later this week, beginning in Arizona, New Mexico and California, which all vote on Feb. 5.

Acrimony has replaced the recent civility of the Republican race as the candidates pin their hopes on Florida's primary. Recent polls show McCain, an Arizona senator, and Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, in a dead heat.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who has trailed far behind in six straight contests, is seeking a win to remain a viable candidate. But he is far behind in the polls, and a poor showing could force him to abandon his bid. Also lagging is Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and ordained Baptist minister, who has not won since the Iowa caucuses nearly a month ago.

On Monday, Romney and McCain accused each other of being liberals, a charge tantamount to blasphemy among Republicans.

Romney lambasted the Arizona senator for a host of "liberal answers" to the country's problems. Among them: McCain's legislation curbing money in politics, his more forgiving view of illegal immigrants and his backing of an energy bill that Romney said would raise consumer costs.

"And I just don't think those liberal answers are what America is looking for, not for the Republican Party or for any party, for that matter," Romney said in Fort Myers, Florida.

McCain accused Romney of "wholesale deception of voters" and of flip-flopping on the issues.

"On every one of the issues he has attacked us on, Mitt Romney was for it before he was against it," McCain said.

Several factors are certain to affect the outcome. The Florida primary is open only to Republican voters; McCain's other wins, in New Hampshire and South Carolina, were fueled in part by independents able to cast ballots in the Republican contest.

McCain is backed by Florida's top two Republican officials, Senator Mel Martinez and Governor Charlie Crist, and has endorsements from a slew of Florida newspapers. The former Vietnam prisoner of war also has broad name recognition, as well as ownership of an issue important to the large number of veterans and active military in the state, national security.

Florida was also to hold a Democratic contest yesterday, but the party's candidates all agreed to a pledge imposed by national party leaders not to publicly campaign there because of a dispute with state party officials. The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all its convention delegates for violating party rules by holding its primary earlier than Feb. 5.

With split decisions in the Democratic contests so far -- Obama won Iowa and South Carolina, Clinton won New Hampshire and Nevada -- there is increased speculation that the nominating race will extend beyond Feb. 5 when more than 1,600 delegates are at stake.

Obama needs to steadily build on his newfound momentum if he is to upstage Clinton and become the first black US president. Kennedy's endorsement increases the pressure on Clinton, the former first lady who hopes to be the first woman to occupy the Oval Office.
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