TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Florida crushed Mitt Romney’s presidential ambitions four years ago. But this time, the GOP front-runner is working to ensure the state seals his nomination — regardless of what happens in South Carolina’s primary on Saturday.
The Romney political machine has been grinding in Florida for months, courting absentee voters, blanketing the state’s television airwaves and wooing local evangelical leaders
Despite lingering distrust among Florida’s conservative electorate, a noticeable confidence has emerged inside Romney’s Tampa headquarters.
He’s been targeting absentee voters with mail, phone calls and personal visits for months. Romney and his allies have also spent more than $6 million combined on television advertising. His rivals aren’t on local television yet.
Most of them have barely opened campaign offices and hired staff.
