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| Florida primary - voting day live | Florida primary - voting day live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11am: Meanwhile, my colleague Adam Gabbatt is in the delightfully named town of Holiday, some 30 miles north-west of Tampa, where he is also seeing little signs of voter enthusiasm: | |
| Precinct 29, Pasco County, is a quiet place. By 10.30am the precinct - specifically located within Buena Vista community centre, on a trailer park in the small town of Holiday - had seen 12 voters through its doors, according to the precinct supervisor, who gave his name as simply Bruce. | |
| "But it's only early, we might get another 30 or 40, he said. This reporter waited for 45 minutes and saw one voter. | |
| Lucky number 13 was Robert Dickinson, 64, who lives just round the corner. Dickinson grew up in Michigan, at a time when George Romney, Mitt's father, was governor. "George was phenomenal," Dickinson said. | |
| One more vote in the bag for Mitt then? "Oh no. Where his son came from I have no idea. He is no example of his father. Mitt has been there, done that, screwed it up." | |
| "There's only one person that's anywhere near," Dickinson said. "Ron Paul. I like him. I think he seems honest, with no ties. He speaks not to the people, but like the people." | |
| Dickinson had made up his mind after watching "all the debates" and reading newspapers, albeit taking their content "with a grain of salt". | |
| He said he hadn't been swayed by television advertising, although admitted they were difficult to escape: "Other than mute, you can't avoid them." | |
| Despite that, there was one advert which had caught his eye: "I love the one they have of Romney going bald and turning into our governor. That tickles me." | |
| Dickinson wasn't sure who the ad was by, although thought it might have been Gingrich. Either way, it doesn't seem to have influenced him much. | |
| 10.35am: No signs of a big turn-out today in the suburbs of Miami, according to my colleague Karen McVeigh, who is outside a polling venue: | |
| There's been a non-stampede of about a voter or two an hour at the two precincts I've been to so far in Aventura, outside of Miami. | |
| Plaza del Prado is a massive condominium block, mostly retirees. They're going to put out an announcement to try to drum up some people to get off their couches and come down and vote. According to one of the election officials it will be like this everywhere. I expect so as 600,000 people had already cast their vote by the time the polls officially opened at 7am. | |
| At the next precinct, Point East, another condo block, I talked to Betty Mendoza, 73, originally from Columbia, who has lived here 17 years. She is unhappy about the attack ads. | |
| "It's sad the campaign is so negative." said Mendoza. She said she was "a little confused" by the campaign ads for the candidates and she tried to ignore them. She would have liked to know more instead about their policies. "I just want Obama out. My daughter my sister have lost their homes and there are no jobs. I am watching to see who is talking most about jobs. I voted from Romney because I think he looks more decisive. | |
| 10.11am: Last night Mitt Romney really let his hair down and did some singing. And no it wasn't Abba's Money, Money, Money – it was America the Beautiful. | |
| Here's Piers Morgan taking the mickey on CNN last night and then being haranged by Suzy Welch, who manages to slip in a bit of dog whistling: "Think about what he's singing," says Welch. "There's going to be a bunch of Americans, maybe not the Americans on the coast, who are going to say that's what my dad sounds like when he sings." Mmm. | |
| My colleague Janine Gibson was there to hear Mitt sing last night, and says it didn't sound so bad live. | |
| 9.49am: Here's a brief news summary from the Guardian's Ryan Devereaux: | 9.49am: Here's a brief news summary from the Guardian's Ryan Devereaux: |
| • Analysts say the question is not whether Romney will win, but by how much. If he wins by a margin of over 12 points, Gingrich's landslide victory in South Carolina will effectively be negated. If the margin is narrower, Gingrich will be able argue that he was beaten by Romney's well-funded campaign machine, not on the issues that matter to conservative voters. | • Analysts say the question is not whether Romney will win, but by how much. If he wins by a margin of over 12 points, Gingrich's landslide victory in South Carolina will effectively be negated. If the margin is narrower, Gingrich will be able argue that he was beaten by Romney's well-funded campaign machine, not on the issues that matter to conservative voters. |
| • Rick Santorum has largely sat out of the contest in Florida. Santorum's 3 year-old daughter, Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, was stricken with pneumonia last weekend. Santorum took time off from the campaign trail to be with his family, but has promised to continue in the race. | • Rick Santorum has largely sat out of the contest in Florida. Santorum's 3 year-old daughter, Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, was stricken with pneumonia last weekend. Santorum took time off from the campaign trail to be with his family, but has promised to continue in the race. |
| • Florida's primary will be followed by a caucus in Nevada on Saturday, and on Tuesday 7 Fenruary by caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and a primary in Missouri. There follows a 11-day break in the action until a debte scheduled for 22 February, followed by primaries on 28 February in Arizona and Michigan. Newt Gingrich has vowed to fight on, whatever the result in Florida. | • Florida's primary will be followed by a caucus in Nevada on Saturday, and on Tuesday 7 Fenruary by caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and a primary in Missouri. There follows a 11-day break in the action until a debte scheduled for 22 February, followed by primaries on 28 February in Arizona and Michigan. Newt Gingrich has vowed to fight on, whatever the result in Florida. |
| 9.32am: So what are the candidates up to today? | 9.32am: So what are the candidates up to today? |
| Newt Gingrich kicked the day off with an 8.30am visit to a polling precinct at the First Baptist Church of Windermere in Orlando. For the rest of the day: | Newt Gingrich kicked the day off with an 8.30am visit to a polling precinct at the First Baptist Church of Windermere in Orlando. For the rest of the day: |
| 11.15am: visits Newt 2012 Polk County HQ, Lakeland 12.30pm: visits Fred's Southern Kitchen, Plant City 3pm: visits polling precinct at Celebration Heritage Hall, at the mildly creepy village of Celebration 8pm: holds Florida primary night party at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. Doors open to public at 6.30pm ET if you want to pop along | 11.15am: visits Newt 2012 Polk County HQ, Lakeland 12.30pm: visits Fred's Southern Kitchen, Plant City 3pm: visits polling precinct at Celebration Heritage Hall, at the mildly creepy village of Celebration 8pm: holds Florida primary night party at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. Doors open to public at 6.30pm ET if you want to pop along |
| Mitt Romney is having a lie-in today after an all-night session playing Modern Warfare 3 and has cancelled a scheduled event in Tampa this morning. But his big party time is at the Tampa Convention Center, and we'll be hanging out there later to soak up the Mittmentum. | Mitt Romney is having a lie-in today after an all-night session playing Modern Warfare 3 and has cancelled a scheduled event in Tampa this morning. But his big party time is at the Tampa Convention Center, and we'll be hanging out there later to soak up the Mittmentum. |
| Meanwhile, both Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are holding their Florida primary parties in that well known Florida hotspot of Las Vegas, Nevada. Ron Paul is holding his party at the Green Valley Ranch Casino, which to be honest sounds more fun than the Tampa Convention Centre. | Meanwhile, both Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are holding their Florida primary parties in that well known Florida hotspot of Las Vegas, Nevada. Ron Paul is holding his party at the Green Valley Ranch Casino, which to be honest sounds more fun than the Tampa Convention Centre. |
| 9.13am: If you haven't read it already, then enjoy my colleague Ed Pilkington's profile of Mitt Romney on the campaign trail in Florida: | 9.13am: If you haven't read it already, then enjoy my colleague Ed Pilkington's profile of Mitt Romney on the campaign trail in Florida: |
| Romney's campaigning style is not as dire as it was four years ago, when he had all the panache of a donkey. This time round, his stump speech is still scripted to death, to the extent that once you have heard him deliver it a few times you can mouth along to it like a pop song. But he is loosened up, discarding tie and suit for jeans and gingham and with his wife, Ann, on his arm. Nonetheless, a nagging disconnect remains. | Romney's campaigning style is not as dire as it was four years ago, when he had all the panache of a donkey. This time round, his stump speech is still scripted to death, to the extent that once you have heard him deliver it a few times you can mouth along to it like a pop song. But he is loosened up, discarding tie and suit for jeans and gingham and with his wife, Ann, on his arm. Nonetheless, a nagging disconnect remains. |
| Ed also tackles the crucial "sacred Mormon underwear" question, via Romney's friend and former US senator Bob Bennett: | Ed also tackles the crucial "sacred Mormon underwear" question, via Romney's friend and former US senator Bob Bennett: |
| I have to put to him the question about Romney that everyone wants to ask but few have the guts to do so. Of course he wears Mormon underpants every day, Bennett replies – they are a symbol of the covenants each member takes inside the temple. | I have to put to him the question about Romney that everyone wants to ask but few have the guts to do so. Of course he wears Mormon underpants every day, Bennett replies – they are a symbol of the covenants each member takes inside the temple. |
| 9am: While we are waiting for the voters to do the actual voting, why not try your hand at political punditry by entering our predict the Florida primary result competition. | |
| It's easy – just rank the four candidates and your best guess of the winner's share of the vote. To help you decide, here's some analysis from Cif America polling analyst Harry Enten – and here are some more forecasts: | It's easy – just rank the four candidates and your best guess of the winner's share of the vote. To help you decide, here's some analysis from Cif America polling analyst Harry Enten – and here are some more forecasts: |
| • The RealClearPolitics polling average has Mitt Romney on 42%, Newt Gingrich on 29%, Rick Santorum on 13% and Ron Paul on 10% | • The RealClearPolitics polling average has Mitt Romney on 42%, Newt Gingrich on 29%, Rick Santorum on 13% and Ron Paul on 10% |
| • The Huffington Post's Mark Blumenthal has Romney on 42%, Gingrich on 28%, Santorum on 12% and Ron Paul on 11% | • The Huffington Post's Mark Blumenthal has Romney on 42%, Gingrich on 28%, Santorum on 12% and Ron Paul on 11% |
| • The New York Times's 538 blog has Romney on 44%, Gingrich on 29%, Santorum on 12% and Ron Paul on 11% | • The New York Times's 538 blog has Romney on 44%, Gingrich on 29%, Santorum on 12% and Ron Paul on 11% |
| So go ahead, it's fun and there are prizes! | So go ahead, it's fun and there are prizes! |
| 8.30am: Polls are now open and voting is underway in Florida's Republican primary, the final day of a bruising campaign that has seen an avalanche of attack advertising and both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich accusing each other of dishonesty. | 8.30am: Polls are now open and voting is underway in Florida's Republican primary, the final day of a bruising campaign that has seen an avalanche of attack advertising and both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich accusing each other of dishonesty. |
| Romney's campaign and supporters have spent $16m on television ads, while Gingrich and his side has managed just $4m in response. To compensate, Gingrich spent yesterday on a statewide-tour, lambasting Romney's record. | Romney's campaign and supporters have spent $16m on television ads, while Gingrich and his side has managed just $4m in response. To compensate, Gingrich spent yesterday on a statewide-tour, lambasting Romney's record. |
| But the latest polls are unanimous: Romney enjoys leads ranging from high single digits to blow-out sized margins. The only question, it seems, is the final gap between the two men. A huge win by Romney could imperil Gingrich's candidacy if voters and donors abandon him | But the latest polls are unanimous: Romney enjoys leads ranging from high single digits to blow-out sized margins. The only question, it seems, is the final gap between the two men. A huge win by Romney could imperil Gingrich's candidacy if voters and donors abandon him |
| There's also a race for the bronze medal between Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, who are both on the ballot but have spent little time campaigning in the Sunshine State, prefering to concentrate on the up-coming caucuses being held in states such as Nevada and Minnesota in February. | There's also a race for the bronze medal between Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, who are both on the ballot but have spent little time campaigning in the Sunshine State, prefering to concentrate on the up-coming caucuses being held in states such as Nevada and Minnesota in February. |
| Guardian correspondents are out in the field, talking to voters at polling stations, and we'll be watching all the news as we wait for polls to close at 8pm ET. | Guardian correspondents are out in the field, talking to voters at polling stations, and we'll be watching all the news as we wait for polls to close at 8pm ET. |