HIALEAH, Fla. (AP) _ Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani skipped the Iowa caucuses Thursday and showered attention instead on Florida, where he holds an early lead he hopes will offset poor showings in the early-voting states.

The former New York City mayor asked the mostly Cuban-American crowd for their help, votes and support on Jan. 29, in the tradition of another election that turned on the Sunshine State.

“I know how good you are at that because I’ve seen you pull us through,” Giuliani said. “Remember, it’s Florida that saved this country for the Republican Party in 2000.”