Money, conveying message play big parts in Fla.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Republican presidential race arrived Sunday in the vast and growing state of Florida, where money and message are going to be among the challenges facing four of the leading candidates.

The home of the 2000 presidential recount is being besieged by GOP candidates with very different agendas in light of Arizona Sen. John McCain's win Saturday in South Carolina.

Already, McCain is being attacked in Florida by rivals Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani for his lengthy tenure in Washington. (McCain was first elected to Congress in 1982.)

"We're obviously doing very well," McCain said in South Carolina, before heading to Florida.

Florida, which holds primaries for both parties on Jan. 29, could help position the GOP winner for success in the 22-state primary on Feb.5.

"If McCain wins Florida, it will make him very much the odds-on favorite" for the nomination, said Lance deHaven-Smith, a political scientist at Florida State University.

One candidate is contemplating his next move. Fred Thompson, who finished third in South Carolina, returned home to the Washington suburbs. The former Tennessee senator had said South Carolina would be his last stand.

The top candidates each face their own challenge in Florida:

•McCain:The Arizona senator needs to find a way to capitalize on his momentum, even though he has less money than Mitt Romney, a multimillionaire who has loaned his campaign more than $17 million through the end of September, according to campaign-finance records. McCain also needs to find a way to gain more support from conservatives, since his victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina came partly through strong appeal to independents.

McCain, who lost most of his staff when his campaign went broke in the summer, said "the money is coming in very well" and should be enough for a "sufficient media buy" in Florida.

Pat Caddell, a former Democratic pollster and a Fox News analyst, said McCain needs to win over conservative Republicans. Radio host Rush Limbaugh and others have criticized him for writing the campaign-finance reform law and for his stance on illegal immigration.

Campaign manager Rick Davis said McCain will continue to talk about winning the war in Iraq and cutting federal spending. Conservative critics "can't argue with the message," Davis said.

•Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor has yet to win in a state where the GOP candidates are fully engaged. Romney has won two caucuses in states his rivals ignored (Nevada and Wyoming) and a primary in a state where he had an advantage because he was better known (Michigan, where he was born and his father was governor).

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Romney touted his business experience and said McCain is the choice of voters who don't want change in Washington. "If they want somebody instead who … understands why jobs come and why they go and understands what it takes to grow an economy, then I think I'll be their person," Romney said.

•Rudy Giuliani: The former New York mayor has gambled that he could skip all of the early contests and focus on Florida. He's done poorly so far and finished sixth in South Carolina, behind longshot Ron Paul.

Giuliani has campaigned heavily in Florida, which is home to many transplanted New Yorkers. Giuliani is averaging 20.3% to McCain's 23.2% in six Florida polls taken between Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, according to Real Clear Politics. Appearing on CNN's Late Edition, Giuliani said his strategy is working "because this is a wide-open field."

•Mike Huckabee: The former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister pulled in 43% of evangelical and born-again voters in South Carolina.

Huckabee has been challenged throughout the campaign by lack of money, and he has noted being outspent in every state.

On Sunday, Huckabee flew to Texas for a fundraiser at the ranch of actor Chuck Norris. Huckabee said he has "reset the clock" on his campaign. "We're anything but finished," he said.

Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida GOP, said McCain, Giuliani and Romney may be better positioned because of money. "You'll see a three-way race."