WASHINGTON (AP):

Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat John Edwards dropped out of the United States presidential race yesterday, narrowing wide-open White House races for both parties to two top candidates.

John McCain emerged as the clear front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, with a victory over former Massachussetts governor, Mitt Romney, in the hotly contested Florida primary on Tuesday. The veteran Arizona senator was expected to line up a quick endorsement from Giuliani before national contests on February 5, a series of 21 contests that could cement the White House nomination for the Republicans.

Symbolic victory

Edwards' withdrawal turns the heated Democratic contest into a battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who won a largely symbolic victory in Florida. No Democratic delegates were at stake and no candidates campaigned there because of a dispute between the state and national parties over the date of the primary.

Speaking to a crowd in New Orleans yesterday, Edwards said it was time to step aside "so that history can blaze its path" in the race between a black man and a woman for the White House.

"With our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November" from the Republicans, he said.