Giuliani Looks Forward to Florida After Finishing 4th in New Hampshire

Rudy Giuliani speaks to supporters after finishing fourth in the 2008 primary. (Rob Sylvan, NHPR)

Rudy Giuliani spoke to about 200 supporters in Manchester. He kept his concession speech under ten minutes, and appeared eager to get to the airport to board a plane for Florida.

"First of all, I congratulate the winners of tonight's primary. I don't think it's been officially called, but later tonight on the way to the airport, I'm sure it'll be called and I'll make a call to the winner and congratulate him."

One of Giuliani's advisors, former Massachusetts governor Paul Celucci, made a conscious decision to focus resources in states richer in delegates than New Hampshire, including Florida and New York.

"And we think we're going to be very competitive in a lot of those big states that are winner-take-all. People forget that the biggest prize on February 5th in terms of winner-take-all delegates is the state of New York, 101 delegates. That's more delegates than - a lot more delegates than were at stake in Iowa and New Hampshire."

Celucci added that the mayor will announce a comprehensive tax reform plan as early as tomorrow in Florida, signaling the campaign's strategy to capture more votes from fiscal conservatives.

For NHPR News, I'm Dianne Finch.