This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7214125.stm

The article has changed 29 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 18 Version 19
McCain wins key Florida primary McCain wins key Florida election
(20 minutes later)
John McCain has beaten Mitt Romney by a slim margin in Florida, a key battle for Republicans seeking to run for president in November. John McCain has won a close victory in Florida in the battle to become the Republican candidate for US president.
Only two-thirds of the vote has been counted but Mr Romney has conceded. Mr McCain narrowly beat Mitt Romney in the primary election to gain the upper hand ahead of next week's crucial polls in 24 states.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who has staked his bid for the party nomination on Florida - was trailing in third and Mike Huckabee fourth. Media reports suggest former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who based his campaign on winning in Florida - may endorse Mr McCain and drop out.
Hillary Clinton claimed victory in the Democratic vote, although it is a largely symbolic contest. Hillary Clinton won a largely symbolic victory in the Democratic vote.
No delegates are at stake for the Democrats because the state's Democratic Party has been penalised by the national party for breaking rules on when it could hold its primary.No delegates are at stake for the Democrats because the state's Democratic Party has been penalised by the national party for breaking rules on when it could hold its primary.
Giuliani's futureGiuliani's future
With two-thirds of the vote counted, Mr McCain led Mr Romney by 36% to 31% but his victory is assured. With three-quarters of the vote counted, Mr McCain led Mr Romney by 36% to 31% but his victory was assured.
The win for Mr McCain means he will take all 57 delegates in what is a winner-takes-all primary - the biggest prize of the primary season so far.The win for Mr McCain means he will take all 57 delegates in what is a winner-takes-all primary - the biggest prize of the primary season so far.
We'll stay involved and together we'll make sure that we'll do everything we can to hand our nation off to the next generation better than it was before Rudy Giuliani Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primaryFlorida primary in pictures What is a primary?We'll stay involved and together we'll make sure that we'll do everything we can to hand our nation off to the next generation better than it was before Rudy Giuliani Economic gloomQ&A: Florida primaryFlorida primary in pictures What is a primary?
The delegates will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen.The delegates will attend the party's national convention later this year when the Republican candidate is chosen.
The result may also be enough to make Mr McCain a clear front-runner going into Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states vote. Speaking to cheering supporters, Mr McCain said he believed he would win the Republican nomination and would go on to win "against anyone the Democratic Party nominates".
It follows a win for the Arizona senator in South Carolina 10 days ago and another in New Hampshire on 8 January. "Tonight, my friends, we celebrate but tomorrow it's back to work," he went on. "We have a ways to go but we are getting close."
In campaigning, Mr McCain focused on national security and has strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state. Mr McCain's Florida victory follows a win for the Arizona senator in South Carolina 10 days ago and another in New Hampshire on 8 January.
In campaigning, Mr McCain focused on national security and had the benefit of strong support among a large number of military servicemen and veterans in the state.
Mr Romney, speaking in St Petersburg, Florida, said he had telephoned Mr McCain to offer his congratulations.Mr Romney, speaking in St Petersburg, Florida, said he had telephoned Mr McCain to offer his congratulations.
A former businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.A former businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney has presented himself as someone with the credentials to shore up the economy.
He said he would be appearing at the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday night.He said he would be appearing at the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday night.
Mr Giuliani was in third place with about 15%.Mr Giuliani was in third place with about 15%.
Mr Giuliani, who has focused almost his entire campaign so far on Florida, had been hoping that pre-vote opinion polls putting him well behind the two front-runners would prove wrong. Mitt Romney has sought to highlight his business experience to voters
Mitt Romney has sought to highlight his business experience to votersSpeaking to his supporters, Mr Giuliani congratulated his opponents on running a "hard-fought campaign". Speaking to his supporters, he congratulated his opponents on running a "hard-fought campaign".
It is not yet clear whether the result will spell the end for his campaign. He was non-committal about his own future in the race but officials have been quoted as saying he intends to endorse Mr McCain for the nomination on Wednesday.
Mr Huckabee, who won in Iowa but needed a good result in Florida to keep him in contention, was fourth with 13%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul was fifth with 3% of the vote. Mr Giuliani said: "We'll stay involved and together we'll make sure that we'll do everything we can to hand our nation off to the next generation better than it was before."
Mike Huckabee, who won in Iowa but needed a good result in Florida to keep him in contention, was fourth with about 13%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul was fifth with about 3% of the vote.
Mr Huckabee thanked his activists in Florida and said of his campaign: "It's not even close to being over. We like to believe we are just getting started."Mr Huckabee thanked his activists in Florida and said of his campaign: "It's not even close to being over. We like to believe we are just getting started."
Democratic rowDemocratic row
None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early.None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in Florida after the party's national committee penalised Florida for holding its primary early.
But Hillary Clinton - who has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and seated at the national convention - held a victory rally in Davie, Florida, as the results came in.But Hillary Clinton - who has said she wants the state's delegates reinstated and seated at the national convention - held a victory rally in Davie, Florida, as the results came in.
Mrs Clinton held a victory rally - but the win brings her no delegatesWith 59% of the vote counted, she was winning by 51% to chief rival Barack Obama's 31%, with John Edwards in third with 15%. Mrs Clinton held a victory rally - but the win brings her no delegatesWith 76% of the vote counted, she was winning by 50% to chief rival Barack Obama's 33%, with John Edwards in third with 15%.
She told supporters: "I am thrilled to have had this vote of confidence that you have given me today and I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida's Democratic delegates seated, but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008."She told supporters: "I am thrilled to have had this vote of confidence that you have given me today and I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida's Democratic delegates seated, but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008."
Mrs Clinton is also keen to see the delegates reinstated in Michigan - a state she won, as the only major candidate on the ballot, but which was stripped of its delegates in the same way as Florida.Mrs Clinton is also keen to see the delegates reinstated in Michigan - a state she won, as the only major candidate on the ballot, but which was stripped of its delegates in the same way as Florida.
Mr Obama told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before". Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state, where he visited the town of El Dorado, the hometown of his maternal grandfather. Mr Obama told reporters he believed the decision on delegates "should be made after the nomination, not before".
Mr Obama spent the day campaigning in Kansas, another Super Tuesday state, where he visited the town of El Dorado, the hometown of his maternal grandfather.
He also picked up the endorsement of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who delivered the Democratic response to President George W Bush's State of the Union address on Monday.He also picked up the endorsement of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who delivered the Democratic response to President George W Bush's State of the Union address on Monday.