Targeted States: Florida

Florida has been a tough state for Democrats in the last two presidential elections and the race looks very tight for 2008.

The state has a Republican governor and both a Democrat and Republican senator. Both the Florida State Senate and State House of Representatives are controlled by Republicans. The Florida delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives consists of 16 Republicans and 9 Democrats.

Florida, of course, was the scene of the 'hanging chad' controversy during the 2000 election when Al Gore barely lost the state costing him the election.

Presently, the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows John McCain ahead of Barack Obama by 2.2 points.

Florida: McCain vs. Obama

Polling Data

Poll	Date	Sample	McCain (R)	Obama (D)	Spread
RCP Average	06/09 - 06/29	--	46.0	43.8	McCain +2.2
Strategic Vision (R)	06/27 - 06/29	1200 LV	49	41	McCain +8.0
PPP (D)	06/26 - 06/29	723 LV	44	46	Obama +2.0
Rasmussen	06/26 - 06/26	500 LV	48	41	McCain +7.0
Quinnipiac	06/09 - 06/16	1453 LV	43	47	Obama +4.0

See All Florida: McCain vs. Obama Polling Data

Two tough crowds in Florida for Obama are Cuban and Jewish Americans. Many conservative Cubans appear less than thrilled with Obama's more open approach toward the country's southern neighbor. The Illinois senator also may be weaker than either Gore or Kerry among Jewish voters. This fact may be complicated by the fact that Sen. Joe Lieberman, a conservative Jew who ran as Al Gore's VP, will be campaigning for McCain.

Florida also has many older voters including a huge population of retirees, who generally have not been as favorable toward Obama.

However, as in most other states, the economy is the top issue for Florida voters followed by Iraq. With many of Florida's voters on fixed incomes, the rising costs of fuel and food are worrisome, and offer an opening for the Obama campaign by concentrating people's attention on the failed Bush, and by extension, McCain economic policy.