Politics

As the Republican candidates were rallying their supporters in Florida on Tuesday night, their campaigns were quietly sending disclosure reports to the Federal Election Commission in Washington. The big picture: Mitt Romney had more money than Newt Gingrich. President Obama had more than either of them. And a few of the new superPACs filed donor lists filled with high rollers.

Tuesday's disclosures run only through Dec. 31 but still reveal some essential truths.

With the big Mitt Romney victory party underway in Tampa, about 40 Romney volunteers watched returns at Casa Marin restaurant in the Cuban stronghold of Hialeah in Miami-Dade County.

This is the place Romney visited Sunday and again tonight, and it's quite a different scene. It's noisy, but low-key — mostly a Spanish-speaking crowd.

After Mitt Romney's big victory in the Florida primary, there's one person in particular he may want to thank: his debate coach, Brett O'Donnell.

With his impressive Florida win on Tuesday, Mitt Romney has re-established himself as the clear front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. But he continues to face fervent opposition from some quarters, and a number of hurdles remain before he can claim the nomination.

Romney took just over 46 percent of the vote, while second-place finisher Newt Gingrich had nearly 32 percent.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had about 13 percent, with Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 7 percent.