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RUDY: FLORIDA STRATEGY WILL WIN

A fading, cash-strapped Rudy Giuliani vowed yesterday he would win the Florida Republican primary on Jan. 29 to recharge his campaign for the presidency – all but admitting that a defeat in the Sunshine State could doom his candidacy.

“This is a state in which we’re well organized and we believe we’re going to win,” Giuliani said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

The former New York mayor said Floridians will look at who is the “most effective leader” with the best message on national security and taxes.

“I believe we will win when they ask those questions,” Giuliani said.

Asked point-blank if he had to win Florida to stay in the race, Giuliani said it’s “critical” and “real important.”

Giuliani courted the influential Hispanic vote in South Florida yesterday, speaking at an evangelical church of 5,000 in West Kendall, stumping in Coconut Grove and riding atop a fire truck at the Three Kings Parade in the Little Havana section of Miami.

He was warmly received, except for a local firefighter protesting the fire-engine ride, saying Giuliani is to blame for 9/11 firefighter deaths.

Giuliani is not competing in the Michigan primary on Tuesday or the South Carolina primary on Saturday.

In Florida, the man nicknamed “America’s mayor” for his handling of Sept. 11 has a strong base of support among Northeastern transplants and Cuban-Americans.

But his support nationally – even in Florida – has eroded following poor performances in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

Giuliani also is battling a cash crunch after it was disclosed that about a dozen of his top campaign staffers will not be paid this month to help preserve resources for Florida and Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states – including delegate-rich and expensive biggies California, New York and Illinois – will vote.