Romney concedes Florida to McCain; Giuliani handed decisive defeat  With more than 50% of Florida's GOP vote counted, all major cable news networks have called the Florida primary for Arizona Senator John McCain over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who offered his concession to the senator before 9:30 PM. The race also presented a final repudiation of the "victory through Florida" strategy of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was in a distant third place, consistent with poll predictions, but was not yet ready to bow out of the race.
Political insiders already appeared to be measuring the boards for Giuliani's political coffin. Time's Mark Halperin and conservative pundit Bill Bennett on CNN both suggested Giuliani will endorse McCain's candidacy as early as Wednesday when the next Republican presidential debate is planned. NBC News and the National Journal also confirmed the reports with Giuliani's staff later in the evening.
In spite of the rumors, Giuliani seemed to hint that he would not bow out at this time.
"Our party will be stronger as a result of the competition we're all going through," he said. "If you believe in a cause, you continue to fight for it, and we will."
But Giuliani sounded some notes of contrition.
"You don't always win, but you try to do it right, and you did," he said, insisting that he ran a "campaign of ideas."
In his victory speech, McCain seemed to offer something of a kiss of death to Giuliani.
"I want to thank him for what he added to this campaign," McCain said in an address to his supporters. "He has inspired us and millions of Americans."
Exit polls from both AP and CBS News showed that McCain's lead was being driven by moderate voters, while Romney picked up conservative voters in the Sunshine State. McCain also had a lead among Latino voters in Florida.
Earlier, speaking from St. Louis before supporters, Gov. Huckabee suggested he could still come out in third place ahead of Giuliani in Florida. He added that while not everyone would be up on stage at the next debate, he would be there.
Giuliani for his part did not answer whether he would debate on Wednesday, and only told NBC News that he would be "going to California."
 
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