Romney courts military vote with McDonnell

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who surged past opponent Newt Gingrich after suddenly strong debate performances, traveled to the Florida panhandle for the first time Saturday to rally a key constituency in the Sunshine State — military families.

Romney greeted hundreds of voters at a campaign event billed as a rally for military veterans, flanked by two key GOP endorsers –Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a southern conservative, and Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war.