That Giuliani still has an outside chance reflects the unusually volatile nature of the '08 contest, in which three candidates have divided the first six contests and no one has pulled away yet.
He says he has "no plans" to quit if he loses Florida, and with primaries one week later in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, he could rebound in the delegate count. But the latest opinion surveys show that he's in danger of getting embarrassed there, too.
Giuliani campaigned yesterday in Miami's Little Havana, home to many of the state's Hispanic voters, who could cast one in 10 primary votes. Once again, it was a story of missed opportunities, according to local politicians.
Among Cuban-Americans, Giuliani's support "has withered away, and a lot of them are going to flock to McCain," said David Custin, a south Florida campaign strategist. Giuliani "shot himself in the foot" by abandoning the early states, and "everybody here witnessed his butt getting kicked by Ron Paul."
In yet another ghoulish development for Giuliani, one of his main opponents in the race appeared to be reacting to him more out of pity than fear in the debate the other night - perhaps with an eye toward gaining Giuliani's support.
McCain came to Giuliani's defense after the former mayor was questioned about a New York Times editorial that excoriated him for exploiting the Sept. 11 attacks and being "a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man" whose "arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking."
Taking Giuliani's side against his hometown paper, McCain praised him as "an American hero." McCain added that he respected all of his Republican opponents, "and I intend to respect them both during and after this campaign is over."
paul.west@baltsun.com
