McCain Puts All His Chips on Florida

Fresh contributions began to pour into John McCain’s campaign immediately following his victory in the New Hampshire Republican primary, and the new money is being earmarked for one key state: Florida.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis told politico.com that the Sunshine State, which holds its primary on Jan. 29, is the new focus of McCain’s spending efforts, with money already in place for earlier primaries in Michigan and South Carolina.

“We’re bought through Michigan and South Carolina,” Davis said.

And McCain adviser Tom Loeffler told the campaign’s finance committee: “Florida, Florida, Florida.”

A fundraising e-mail Davis sent out following the New Hampshire primary had the subject line: "In Case You Missed It: We Won!"

Rudy Giuliani has already been concentrating his campaign efforts heavily on Florida. He has moved staff there and bought TV ads across the state, after limiting his efforts in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Politico observed: “After finishing in the back of the pack in the first two — and likely the second two — contests, a victory in Florida is imperative to get him to the trove of delegates to be had when 22 states vote on Super Tuesday.