FL Primary: GOP Voters Head To Polls [VIDEO]

FL Primary: GOP Voters Head To Polls [VIDEO]

The polls are open in Florida for a primary that Mitt Romney hopes will give him a stronger hand in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney is heavily favored in the primary — the final contest, and a pivotal one, in a month of high-stakes elections. He has one win and two second-place finishes so far.

In Palm Beach this morning, investment adviser Julian Stoopler said he’s always liked Gingrich, but ultimately decided to give his vote to former business leader Romney. He says the country needs “a CEO to turn it around.”

But in Miami’s Little Havana, car salesman Osvaldo Mitat favored Gingrich because of his “commitment to the Cuban community.” He says Gingrich’s past personal life doesn’t bother him — Mitat has been divorced four times himself.

Gingrich has acknowledged that his momentum has slowed, but he’s promising not to back down — saying the party is not going to nominate “a liberal Republican.”

Romney’s campaign canceled a rally this morning, but scheduled a celebration tonight in Tampa. Gingrich is making a series of appearances before gathering with supporters tonight in Orlando.

Santorum bristles as Gingrich suggests he quit


Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says Newt Gingrich shouldn’t be urging him to drop out of

the primaries.

Santorum tells Fox News Channel that one candidate shouldn’t tell another “to get out of the race and get out of the way.”

The former Pennsylvania senator was responding to remarks by Gingrich suggesting other conservatives need to coalesce around him to keep Mitt Romney from winning the party nomination.

Santorum says he thinks he’s the better, more conservative candidate himself — but that wouldn’t justify asking Gingrich to quit. He says, “Everybody should run.”

Santorum, who won a close victory in the Iowa caucuses, lags in the polls and has given up on Tuesday’s Florida primary. He’s moved on to other states including Colorado and Nevada.

After endorsing Gingrich, Cain says Romney OK, too

Fresh off campaigning for Newt Gingrich in Florida, former candidate Herman Cain says he also would be comfortable supporting Mitt Romney if he’s the one who wins the Republican presidential nomination.

Cain made his remarks as Floridians were heading to the polls Tuesday for their GOP primary.

Cain told NBC’s “Today” show that he endorsed Gingrich and campaigned with him Monday because he found Gingrich’s tax plan similar to his own proposal, dubbed his “9-9-9″ plan. Cain said he would be “very comfortable” with Romney, too, but that both candidates carry negatives that would be attacked by President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

Cain dropped out of the race in early December. He said he wouldn’t run again, joking that his “biological clock is ticking.”

Composer sues to stop Gingrich use of song

The composer of the “Rocky III” anthem “Eye of the Tiger” is suing Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to stop him from using the song at campaign events.

The federal lawsuit, filed Monday in Chicago by Rude Music Inc., contends Gingrich has used the song since 2009 to herald his arrival at rallies and public events.

The lawsuit says Gingrich uses the song without the permission of Frank Sullivan, who with Jim Peterik, composed the song and copyrighted it in 1982.

The lawsuit asks for an injunction to prevent Gingrich from using the song, as well as damages and attorneys’ fees. Attorneys for the Gingrich campaign couldn’t be reached for comment late Monday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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