In Florida McCain took 36 percent of the vote, Mitt Romney 31 percent, Rudy Giuliani 15 percent and Mike Huckabee 14 percent. The results mean Giuliani is almost certain to drop out of the running for the Republican race and endorse Mr McCain following one of the most disastrous election strategies ever.

Hillary Clinton is now a best price of 13/10 (bet $10 to make a $13 profit) to be next US president while McCain is rated a 9/4 chance. Barack Obama is a 3/1 shot, followed by Mitt Romney at 14/1. Only Michael Bloomberg, who may still decide to run as an independent candidate, is rated shorter than 100/1 and he is a 40/1 chance at the moment. The failure of Rudy Giuliani to capture the voter’s imaginations may make Mr Bloomberg unwilling to run.

The success of John McCain has caught several bookies out. When the betting opened he was a general 4/1 shot to be next US president but by November 1 he had been pushed out to 40/1 as his campaign floundered. Since then it has picked up extraordinary momentum but it has to be remembered he could still be bet at 14/1 on January 1.

In the betting on who will secure the Republican nomination, McCain is a 1/5 shot, with Romney his only realistic rival at a best price of 14/5.

Hillary Clinton is top priced at 53/100 to be the Democratic Candidate with Obama rated a 7/4 shot in the run up to Super Tuesday, which is likely to prove decisive in who gets the candidature.

Check out all the Next US betting president odds, betting on the Republican nomination and betting on the Democratic nomination at Bookies.com.