So I ended up at the So I ended up at the Romney event this evening (sorry to the commenters who were plugging for Rudy; the bossfolks suggested I head here). Right now I'm in the basement of the hall where his party is being held, which is packed full of more reporters than any one candidate should merit. Everyone is dining on Romney-sponsored chicken-on-a-stick and baked brie. Many of these are the same reporters I've seen all week at rallies, who follow the candidate to their press sessions afterwards and ask deep questions like, "Why does your opponent hate you?" and "Your opponent says you hate puppies. Would you say that's true?" so it's insightful surreal observing them as they discuss and write up the exact same lack of news in a billion different ways.
And that not-really-newsworthy news so far is that with 32 percent of precincts reporting, McCain and Romney are neck-and-neck at 34 and 32 percent, respectively. Giuliani and Huckabee are within a point of each other in their race for third place. But that's only about a third of the votes so far, so we've still got a little while before any winners are declared on the Republican side
It should also be pointed out that for the Republicans, Florida is winner-take-all; one person will get all 57 delegates. Going into today, McCain has 32 delegates, Romney has 27 and Huckabee has 7, so these delegates will be a major boon to whomever gets to take them home. On the Democratic side, delegates are apportioned, so if they do decide to seat Florida at the convention, they would be split among the candidates.
So far, Clinton is pulling the state at 49 percent to Obama's 30, and Fox is calling it for Clinton. She's already given her victory speech in Davie, Fla. An excerpt:
I am convinced with this resounding vote, with the millions that will vote on Tuesday, we will send a message that America is back. I am so grateful to the countless Floridian who on their own organized, talked to their neighbors ... As we move forward on this campaign, all of your voices will go with me.
--Kate Sheppard
