CLEARWATER, Fla. — Rudolph W. Giuliani, who is struggling here in polls of the state he staked his candidacy on, said aboard his plane Monday that regardless of what happens in the Florida primary on Tuesday that “we fully intend to participate in the debate’’ that the Republican candidates plan to hold Wednesday in California.

“I think that the winner of Florida will win the nomination,’’ he said, “and we’re going to win Florida.’’

He said last week that he intended to continue in the race even if he comes up short here. But money has been tight, and in recent days he has been marginalized; a front-page article in the Orlando Sentinel Monday morning about the primary focused on the leading candidates, Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney, and did not mention Mr. Giuliani at all in the portion of the article that was on the front page. ... ( more )