House Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Texas) and House Majority Leader Dick Armey, appearing on Fox "Morning News, " described Monday night's closed-door GOP caucus.

CNN: AllPolitics - Decision Day - jan. 7, 1997

Instead of retreating, the GOP and its voters closed ranks and attacked with a unified message and battle plan.

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It is an argument that got 165 votes, including 157 Republicans, for a Bartlett amendment in the House last September and swayed several Republicans again in a closed-door meeting of the GOP on March 12.

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And under Kennedy, it not only has surpassed its own fund-raising records but closed the gap between the parties that traditionally has given the GOP the financial edge in congressional elections.

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And unlike New Hampshire and South Carolina, where McCain won primaries thanks to support from independent voters, Florida holds a closed primary, meaning only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary there.

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