Economy, taxes dominate Republican race in Florida

The Florida contest is a three-way race, with Giuliani, Romney and McCain competing.

WASHINGTON POST

NAPLES, Fla. — After months of debate over illegal immigration, social issues and the Iraq war, the economy and taxes have emerged as the central focus of the Republican race in Florida.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has staked his entire candidacy on winning here, has shifted his focus from terrorism to taxes in a late effort to halt his slide in polls. He told several hundred people on the Gulf Coast Wednesday that his plan to reduce corporate and individual taxes would reinvigorate private investment and spending.

“Right now, we’re focused on the question of the economy and turning around an economy,” Giuliani told reporters later.

With former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson quitting Tuesday, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee largely shifting his focus elsewhere, Giuliani is now pitted against the men who have been his main rivals from the beginning: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Ariz. Sen. John McCain.

A new poll for the St. Petersburg Times shows McCain and Romney leading the contest in Florida, with Giuliani and Huckabee fading. The poll put McCain at 25 percent and Romney at 23 percent, with Giuliani and Huckabee tied at 15 percent each and 13 percent undecided. The Times’ November poll had Giuliani in front of Romney by nearly 2 to 1.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, R, said he believed the new poll reflects fallout from Giuliani’s failure to win in any of the earlier states.sw

The governor said Tuesday’s winner likely will head into the big round of contests on Feb. 5 with real momentum. “We’re the first megastate to weigh in on this primary season and I think you could make a very good argument that Florida is a very good bellwether of the country,” he said.

Aside from concerns over the nation’s economy, a referendum on Florida’s ballot Tuesday that would lower property taxes is also contributing to the anti-tax rhetoric.

Both McCain and Romney campaigned across a sunny Florida Wednesday, offering voters similar promises of tax cuts and economic recovery as their campaigns lashed out at each other over charges of flip-flopping on key issues.