LAKELAND — Two hours behind schedule, Rudy Giuliani just wrapped up a six-city day of campaigning by greeting at least 100 supporters who hung around to see him at an ice cream parlor here.

With his campaign bus blaring out the theme from the movie Rudy to drown out the bullhorned protests of two anti-abortion demonstrators, Giuliani thanked the faithful for their support and urged them to take advantage of early voting before the Jan. 29 primary.

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Giuliani, who seldom refers even obliquely to any of his Republican rivals, recognized the several Ron Paul supporters hoisting signs at his event.

“Let me say to the Ron Paul people out there: We respect your participation in the process,” Giuliani said.