(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-27 08:36

Roughly half the voters said Bill Clinton's campaigning for his wife was very important to their choice.

The exit poll was conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and the networks.

After playing a muted role in the earlier contests, the issue of race dominated an incendiary week that included a shift in strategy for Obama, a remarkably bitter debate and fresh scrutiny of the former president's role in his wife's campaign.

Clinton and Obama swapped accusatory radio commercials earlier in the week.

The former first lady aired an ad saying Obama had once approved of Republican ideas. His camp responded quickly: "Hillary Clinton will say anything to get elected." First she, then he, pulled the commercials after a couple of days.

Each side accused the other of playing the "race card," sparking a controversy that frequently involved the former president.

"They are getting votes, to be sure, because of their race or gender. That's why people tell me Hillary doesn't have a chance of winning here," Bill Clinton said at one stop, strongly suggesting that blacks would not support a white alternative to Obama.

Clinton campaign strategists denied any intentional effort to stir the racial debate. But they said they believe the fallout has had the effect of branding Obama as "the black candidate."

By week's end, one poll indicated that Obama's support among whites in the state had dropped sharply.

Given the bickering, Edwards looked for an opening to reinvigorate a candidacy all but eclipsed by the historic campaign between Obama and Clinton. He went on the "Late Show with David Letterman" at midweek to say he wanted to represent the "grown-up wing of the Democratic party."

Meanwhile, in the Republican race in Florida, McCain accused Romney of wanting to set a timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, drawing immediate protest from his rival who said: "That's simply wrong and it's dishonest, and he should apologize."

The heated exchange underscored the growing intensity of the Republican race ahead of the state's pivotal primary. A fairly civil debate over economic records and leadership credentials spiraled into an all-out showdown as the two campaigned along the state's southwest coast.

Polls show McCain and Romney locked in a tight fight for the lead in a state that offers the winner a hefty 57 delegates to the Republicans' nominating convention next summer and a shot of energy heading into the February 5 races.

McCain received a key endorsement Saturday from Florida's Republican governor, Charlie Crist.

In Orlando, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor trailing in polls and trying to climb his way back into the leaders pack, sought to take the high road, saying he wanted to "remain positive".

There will be more than 1,000 Republican delegates at stake on February 5, enough to give a candidate a substantial boost toward the 1,191 needed to win the presidential nomination.

 

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