Even before polls opened at 7 a.m., more than a million ballots had already been cast, through early voting and absentee ballots. The two GOP frontrunners have drawn some sharp distinctions emerging as Mr. Economy and Mr. Security.
Once a national frontrunner, now a long-shot, Rudy Giuliani initially said the winner of Florida will win the nomination. Today he stands third in the polls after spending more time and more money in the state than any other candidate. "The reasoning was that this was the state where we would have the chance to do the best, given my positions, given the pros and cons, given the resources that we had" said Giuliani.
Right behind Giuliani in polls, is Mike Huckabee, who hasn't won since the Iowa caucuses.
There is also a democratic primary in Florida today. All the names are on the ballot, but no delegates will be rewarded. It's the national party's way of punishing the state for scheduling its primary too early.
