Frontrunner John McCain made a pitch to the military, Mitt Romney bragged about his economic credentials and Rudy Giuliani - his campaign on life support - talked up hurricane insurance Tuesday in the Sunshine State.

Welcome to the circus of the Republican presidential race, entering its final week before Florida’s crucial primary.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney, campaigning in Boca Raton, Coral Springs and Naples, used financial markets’ turmoil to make his case.

Giuliani, who banked on winning the delegate-rich Sunshine State after basically punting all states up until this point, is struggling to regain the momentum that once had him leading polls in Florida.

Ouch! Rudy Giuliani has fallen to fourth or worse in some polls.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who surged to a brief lead in Florida after his win in Iowa only to fade as his money has dried up, again spent much of Tuesday in Georgia before returning to Gainesville.

But at least he made it. Fred Thompson did not.

The former Tennessee senator needed a strong finish in South Carolina to stay in the race, and didn’t get it. He ended up with 16 percent - behind McCain and Huckabee, a point ahead of Romney - and quit the race.

Continue reading in the Palm Beach Post …