Tears flowed at the Loews Portofino Bay Universal Hotel in Orlando tonight! Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, echoing former New York Yankee great Yogi Berra said, "It's not over 'til its over." And then he chuckled. It was perhaps the only laugh of the night!
Because..it IS over for Giuliani. Associated Press and other news agencies are reporting he will go to California to endorse Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and then formally bow out of the race. When a reporter standing right next to me asked Giuliani if he was going to California, his only answer was, "I got my ticket."
He never actually dropped out tonight, but his speech had somber notes of finality: "This country is in good hands, because it is in your hands. It's in the people's hands," he said.
Giuliani supporters gathered around me hugged and cried. Actor Jon Voight, who was the leading celebrity endorsement for Giuliani told me later, "It was fun!"
Voight played with hotel staff after the event, and was so impressed by a young man who impersonated Ethel Merman, that he called the guy's mom on his cell phone. Campaigns have just unreal moments like this!
But for Rudy Giuliani it was bittersweet. People cheered when he mentioned the response to the September 11th attacks, and he promised the nation would choose a President who will respond further. It was an allusion to McCain. The two represent the moderate center of the GOP.
In Miami tonight, the scene stood in stark contrast. Even thought she won "zero" delegates, Sen. Clinton said, "Thank you for this tremendous victory tonight!" She promised to sweep through the 22 states holding primaries and caucuses next week, on "Super Tuesday."
Right now McCain and Clinton are the clear frontrunners, heading into the big "Super Tuesday" contests in California and New York.
I will be on KPFA-FM 94.1 Wednesday morning for a complete wrap-up with Aimee Allison, then at 7:45 I am "live" on KTVU's "Mornings on 2" with Ross McGowan.
It's back to California Wednesday night. Check in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
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