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Rudy Will Drop Out, Endorse McCain

He staked his campaign on a Florida win but finished third

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 29, 2008 9:06 PM CST
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(Newser) – Rudy Giuliani will drop out of the presidential race in the wake of his weak third-place finish in Florida and endorse John McCain tomorrow, NBC News reports. Giuliani is expected to fly to the Ronald Reagan library in California to make the announcement. "We ran a campaign that was uplifting," a dejected Giuliani told supporters. Asked later whether he was dropping out, he responded only, "I'm going to California."

In his speech, however, Giuliani frequently referred to this campaign in the past tense. "We'll stay involved and together we'll make sure that we'll do everything we can to hand our nation off to the next generation better than it was before," he said. McCain, in his victory speech, lavished praise on Giuliani, saying he "invested his heart and soul in this primary and conducted himself with all of the qualities of the exceptional American leader he truly is."

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, talks to supporters after conceding the Florida Republican primary at his election watch headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Republican presidential hopeful, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, talks to supporters after conceding the Florida Republican primary at his election watch headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday,...   (Associated Press)
Judith Nathan, wife of Rudy Giuliani,embraces him as he talks to supporters after conceding the Florida Republican primary at his election watch headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Judith Nathan, wife of Rudy Giuliani,embraces him as he talks to supporters after conceding the Florida Republican primary at his election watch headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008....   (Associated Press)
Rudy Giuliani speaks to a group of supporters at a Florida primary election night party in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Rudy Giuliani speaks to a group of supporters at a Florida primary election night party in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.(AP Photo/John Raoux)   (Associated Press)
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