(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-30 09:26

MIAMI -- John McCain and Mitt Romney clashed in a hard-fought Florida primary on Tuesday, seeking campaign momentum before the race for the Republican presidential nomination turns into a nationwide delegate struggle on Feb. 5.

Voters sign in to cast their ballots in the Florida primary, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, in Tallahassee, Fla. [Agencies]

Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee also had spots on the ballot, struggling for survival in a race that threatened to leave them behind -- or out.

The winner stood to gain all 57 national convention delegates at stake, the biggest prize so far in an early round of primaries and caucuses.

The Democratic primary was controversial by its very existence, held earlier in the year than national party officials had wanted. That made it a nonbinding popularity contest with no delegates awarded on the basis of the outcome.

But even that became grist for disagreement in the escalating battle between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

All the Democratic candidates agreed in advance not to campaign in the state. Clinton, who was routed in the South Carolina primary last weekend, repeatedly sought to draw attention to an event she expected to win. Without success, she challenged her rivals to agree to heed the results of the Florida contest -- and of the Jan. 15 primary she won in Michigan, which was also stripped of its delegate for leapfrogging ahead -- when it comes time to seat delegates at next summer's Democratic National Convention.

"Those decisions will be made after the nomination, not before," Obama told reporters Tuesday on a plane from Washington to Kansas. "Obviously, I care a lot about the people in Michigan and a lot about the people in Florida. And I want their votes in the general election. We'll be actively campaigning for them."

Romney began the evening with 59 Republican delegates, to 36 for McCain and 40 for Huckabee. Giuliani had one.

No matter the winner, there was no time to rest. There are 23 contests on the ballot on Feb. 5, with 1,023 delegates at stake.

McCain milked his endorsement from Florida's highest-ranking Republican on Tuesday, appearing outside a polling station alongside Gov. Charlie Crist as voting began in the primary.

"It's a true honor to stand with this American hero, a great statesman, a tremendous United States senator and a great leader for this country," Crist said during a syrupy made-for-TV appearance in St. Petersburg. Mentioning the endorsement, Crist added: "I hope it helps the guy."

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