Tuesday May 22nd 2012
Democracy in America
American politics
Programming note
Florida's slugfest
Jan 31st 2012, 18:59 by R.M. | WASHINGTON, DC
MITT ROMNEY is likely to top Newt Gingrich in Florida, but now he must beat expectations. Will a five-point margin of victory suffice? What about ten? And if it's close, will there be a challenge to Florida's winner-take-all allocation of delegates? We'll be watching as the results roll in tonight. Our live-blog begins at 7:30pm ET.
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Puppeteer Lynn Coffin entertains an audience with her "punching politicians"—puppets depicting presidential candidates Newt Gingrich, left, and Mitt Romney, right.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Flying high after South Carolina, Newt Gingrich is greeted by 3,000 people at a hangar in Bradenton. "When they told me how big the crowd was, I was stunned," he said.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Mitt Romney may have been feeling a bit smaller after his defeat in the Palmetto State. Here he is visible in a reflection on his campaign bus in Ormond Beach, Florida.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Rick Santorum left the campaign trail to attend to his sick daughter. But his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, picked up the slack. Here she waits to address a campaign rally.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Gerald Bestron, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator, joins in a prayer for Bella Santorum, daughter of Rick Santorum.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Ron Paul did not campaign in Florida, but his supporters were visible outside the events of other Republican candidates.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Jay Cann, a previously undecided voter, watches a debate between the candidates. Following the event, he said he would vote for Mitt Romney.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Mitt Romney's events took on renewed vitality following the debate. Young people showed their support during a rally at Lanco Paint Company in Orlando.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
After the debate, Newt Gingrich's support took a hit, as evidenced by the rows of empty seats during this town-hall meeting in Orlando for Hispanics. -
Damion Nickman, 26, stands outside a rally for Mitt Romney. A passing motorist noticed Mr Nickman's sign then shouted, "I don't think so!"Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
Mike Loescher poses next to a sign he posted on his property beside Highway 1. He claims that under Barack Obama his company has experienced a 90% reduction in business.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald -
As Floridians cast their votes, Mitt Romney is ahead in the polls. But Newt Gingrich has said that even if he loses, he will continue his campaign.Source: Christopher Fitzgerald
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It might just be me, but in the photo above it looks like Romney's getting ready to smack Gingrich in the cajones.
No mention of Ron Paul. I'm secretly rooting for him. That would make tonight alot of fun. A Romney victory, like everything else about Romney, is very dull.
90% reduction in business for the guy in panel 11?
Any takers on guessing what his business is? My bet is that he makes really crappy furniture for a mediocre price and an IKEA moved in next door.
Either that or he sucks at business the same way he sucks at sign making and dressing himself.
It may be his people skills.
I mean, he doesn't appear concerned about losing Obama supporters who might otherwise have been customers.
will there be a challenge to Florida's proportional allocation of delegates?
Since Florida is currently ste up as winner-take-all, I presume you mean "will there be a challenge to require Florida to use proportional allocation of delegates?"
Yes, thank you Jouris.
I believe one of the punishments for moving the primary up was that they were supposed to also lose the primary being winner take all (they also lost half their delegates). Florida decided to just ignore the part about the primary being winner take all announced that it would be but that could change if one of the runners up decides to challenge the fact that it Florida still says it is. If they hadn't moved up, they would have about twice as many delegates and there would be no ability to challenge the winner take all rule.
I think it is interesting that a state this large, this diverse and (at least this time around) with the level of Florida's economic problems is going this early. I'm sort of glad they pushed it.