Is Florida do-or-die for the Republicans?

The Associated Press

They meet again.

Featured Topic | Posted 37 weeks 6 days ago

Is Florida do-or-die for the Republicans?

The ever-shrinking Republican presidential field meets for potentially the last time as a 5-way contest on Thursday night in Boca Raton. It is the only debate before the state’s crucial Jan. 29 primary. With Mitt Romney, John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani jockeying for first in the polls, there’s a do-or-die feel to tonight's contest.

The candidates are crafting their messages that appeal to Sunshine State voters, such as plans for national disaster insurance. But what about issues that affect the rest of the country? And should the Florida debate shape the remaining primary elections?

RedBlueAmerica.com's Ben and Joel will liveblog the debate, which starts at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific on MSNBC.

Ben likes: The panhandle pander

The Wall Street Journal

Will America's taxpayers underwrite hurricane insurance for Florida homeowners?

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, desperately needing a win in the Sunshine State, has made support for the Florida bailout a centerpiece of his recent speeches. His new Web video proudly announces that among the GOP candidates, "only one has a plan to lower rates and fix the insurance mess. Tested in crisis. Ready to lead. Rudy Giuliani." So the hero of 9/11 will apply that experience to making sure South Beach homeowners can buy insurance at below-market rates. America's Mayor is now vying to become America's Insurance Commissioner.

And Giuliani isn't the only one.

Joel likes: Pay to play

Mori Dinauer/The American Prospect

Besides being an expensive state to run ads in, Florida has also taken on the status of "must-win" for the Republican field. Rudy Giuliani, who has looked like an also-ran (if that) for weeks now, has staked his entire nomination strategy on big states like Florida. And even though he has financial problems of his own, Giuliani is likely to use whatever remains of his war chest to soak Florida in advertisements to augment his near-residential status in the Sunshine State in a Hail-Mary effort to resurrect his campaign. Romney, as the article notes, is more than capable of simply funding his own ad buys to hopefully expand his delegate lead. Put all of this together and McCain's media-designated status as the Republican front-runner hinges heavily on stopping Romney in Florida.