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| Republicans chase Florida votes | Republicans chase Florida votes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Republican presidential hopefuls have focused on the economy and criticised Democrat Hillary Clinton in a debate in Florida ahead of a key primary poll. | |
| State frontrunners John McCain and Mitt Romney sparred over tax cuts. Mr McCain accused Mrs Clinton of wanting to "wave the white flag" in Iraq. | |
| He and Mrs Clinton were both boosted by endorsements from the New York Times. | |
| Mrs Clinton and rival Barack Obama were to begin a final day of campaigning ahead a crucial vote in South Carolina. | |
| Florida is crucial for Rudy Giuliani, who trails Mitt Romney and John McCain in polls there, despite his decision to focus his efforts on the state. | Florida is crucial for Rudy Giuliani, who trails Mitt Romney and John McCain in polls there, despite his decision to focus his efforts on the state. |
| Recent polls in Florida suggest John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck and neck as frontrunners in the Republican race in the state, well ahead of the former New York, Mr Giuliani in third place, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee behind him. | Recent polls in Florida suggest John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck and neck as frontrunners in the Republican race in the state, well ahead of the former New York, Mr Giuliani in third place, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee behind him. |
| Florida will be the first large state to vote in the battle for the Republican nomination. | Florida will be the first large state to vote in the battle for the Republican nomination. |
| Mr Kucinich stood down from his second attempt | Mr Kucinich stood down from his second attempt |
| Mr Giuliani has spent two weeks campaigning in the state. For both he and Mr Romney, Florida has emerged as the make-or-break state in their campaigns. | Mr Giuliani has spent two weeks campaigning in the state. For both he and Mr Romney, Florida has emerged as the make-or-break state in their campaigns. |
| "We are gaining support. I think you'll see that over the next few days," Mr Giuliani was quoted by AP. "We are going to accomplish it against the odds." | "We are gaining support. I think you'll see that over the next few days," Mr Giuliani was quoted by AP. "We are going to accomplish it against the odds." |
| The Democratic Party is looking towards South Carolina, the next stage in the hard-fought race between Mr Obama, who won in Iowa, and Mrs Clinton who took New Hampshire and Nevada. | The Democratic Party is looking towards South Carolina, the next stage in the hard-fought race between Mr Obama, who won in Iowa, and Mrs Clinton who took New Hampshire and Nevada. |
| Polls suggest Mr Obama leads in the state, where the two rivals are battling for the African American vote. | Polls suggest Mr Obama leads in the state, where the two rivals are battling for the African American vote. |
| The two senators have frequently traded verbal blows on the campaign trail. | The two senators have frequently traded verbal blows on the campaign trail. |
| "Black voters shouldn't blame Senator Clinton for running a vigorous campaign against me," Mr Obama said after campaigning in the state. | "Black voters shouldn't blame Senator Clinton for running a vigorous campaign against me," Mr Obama said after campaigning in the state. |
| "That should be a source of pride. It means I might win this thing." | "That should be a source of pride. It means I might win this thing." |
| 'Looking for a fight' | 'Looking for a fight' |
| Both camps have had to pull radio adverts critical of their rival running partners. | Both camps have had to pull radio adverts critical of their rival running partners. |
| "We're in a very heated campaign, and people are coming out and saying all kinds of things," Mrs Clinton said. | "We're in a very heated campaign, and people are coming out and saying all kinds of things," Mrs Clinton said. |
| The former first lady claimed Mr Obama had been "looking for a fight", while he repeated his claim that the Clintons had been attacking him in "not accurate" ways. | The former first lady claimed Mr Obama had been "looking for a fight", while he repeated his claim that the Clintons had been attacking him in "not accurate" ways. |
| All the contenders are looking towards the potentially decisive "Super Tuesday" on 5 February, when 22 states will vote for a candidate from either side to stand in November's presidential election. | All the contenders are looking towards the potentially decisive "Super Tuesday" on 5 February, when 22 states will vote for a candidate from either side to stand in November's presidential election. |
| Meanwhile, Democrat Dennis Kucinich said he would pull out of the race. | |
| Mr Kucinich, 61, told Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper he would announce on Friday that he would be "transiting out of the presidential campaign". | |
| It was the 61-year-old Mr Kucinich's second attempt for the presidency. The liberal Democrat is opposed to the Iraq war and has called for the impeachment of Vice-President Dick Cheney. |