Romney has edge in Fla., but Obama is pushing hard

In this photo combo, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, left and President Barack Obama face each other during the third presidential debate with President Barack Obama at Lynn University, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, in Boca Raton, Fla. / AP Photo/Eric Gay, David Goldman

BOCA RATON, Fla. On an electoral map that still poses challenges for Mitt Romney, one heartening trend for the Republican nominee can be found in Florida, whose 29 electoral votes constitute the largest prize among the battleground states.

In recent weeks, the Sunshine State has moved clearly in Romney's direction.

After President Obama led in every Florida poll released in the second half of September, Romney has been ahead in nine of the last 10 surveys conducted, leading his opponent by 1.8 percent in the latest RCP Average of polls here.

Romney's momentum is particularly significant for one reason: Florida is a must-win state for him. If he were to fall short, he would have to sweep the remaining eight battlegrounds in order to win the presidency -- a scenario that not even his rosiest spinmeister would deem credible.

For Obama, on the other hand, Florida is a prime opportunity to seal the deal rather than a necessity for political survival.

Anitere Flores, a Republican who serves in the state Senate, said signs of Romney's momentum could be seen the last couple of weeks just by driving around her South Florida district.

"I always say as a politician that yard signs don't vote. We know that. But yard signs give people a sense of ownership of the campaign," Flores said. "Four weeks ago, there were no yard signs for either candidate anywhere in our universe. Now, everywhere you turn, it's mostly for Romney and people have them everywhere."

Flores added quickly that she holds no illusions of an easy victory for Romney in her state.

She is not alone in that assessment.

While both campaigns agree privately that Romney has opened up a small lead here, neither one believes that advantage is more than a couple of points.

And there is room for the dynamic to shift once again down the homestretch, as persuadable voters who live along Central Florida's I-4 corridor -- long the crown jewel of presidential swing regions -- make their final decisions.

Obama demonstrated his continued determination not to cede the state to Romney by sticking around the morning after their debate Monday and giving a feisty speech in Delray Beach.

And while visiting a campaign field office in Orlando over the weekend, Vice President Joe Biden did not downplay the importance of a Democratic victory here to his own re-election hopes.

"We win Florida, this is all history man," Biden said as he greeted volunteers. "If you guys push Florida over, this thing becomes not close."

State Democrats have a registration advantage over Republicans of almost 500,000, and the minority population in Florida has grown significantly over the last four years, providing an additional cushion for Obama.

But the president's campaign has been hindered by a Democratic base here that is less motivated than it was four years ago, when Obama carried Florida by a 3 percent margin over John McCain.

State Republicans note that they have been outpacing Democrats in absentee ballot requests, though at a lesser rate than they did in 2008.

But as is the case in every swing state, Democrats have been touting what they believe is a clear advantage in their ground game, which could tip the outcome of the race.

"There are 103 [Obama campaign] field offices in Florida -- they have been open and operating and people have been out there working hard first to register huge numbers and now making sure people are voting early," said Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch. "That ground game is going to matter a lot."

Following Monday night's third and final presidential debate, held at Lynn University, several Obama campaign officials and Florida-based surrogates said that they expect the president to return to the state during the final two-week push. But any additional visits would have to be weighed against Obama's most pressing strategic concern: keeping the Midwestern triumvirate of Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin in his column.

Asked about the Romney team's view that they now have a clear leg up in Florida, which might allow them to focus resources elsewhere, Bob Graham -- the state's former governor, senator, and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate -- sounded a defiant note.

"That's not a very good commentary on the judgment of Gov. Romney and the people who surround him," Graham said. "I believe Florida continues to be very much in contest."

[buzzerby]

Please people, take some pride in yourselves and your country and stop resorting to the name calling if someone disagrees with your viewpoint. Understand this is what makes this country great, you can disagree with one another and not be put in prison or worse for your viewpoints. This is a great country and many people have shed their blood so you can have your opinion. Support your candidate, that is great, but don't put your fellow countryman down because he supports a different one. My prayer is that God will put the person in office that he wants.

[ongelooflijk-2009]

Colin Powell is an intelligent, keen and honorable individual and saw first hand what went on under George W's administration and knows what's at stake if Romney gets elected.
He knows Obama is a 'centrist' and not some 'commie/socialist' as the growing number of extremists in the GOP continue to espouse. He also has the calm, sharp intellect of a warrior-scholar and knows Obama's economic policies will work and are what's best for the country in the near and long term---if only the Republican House will quit blocking Obama's legislation as they have done throughout the Presidents entire term; wanting him to fail!
Governor Romney....."for the middle class that has suffered under the Obama economic policies for the last four years."
YEAH, THIS HAS BECOME ROMNEY AND THE GOP'S NEW MANTRA AND IT'S CLEARLY A LOAD OF CRAP!!!
The TRUTH:
'The middle class has really suffered under Romney's GOP House Republican obstruction / blockage of Obama's economic policy legislation for the last four years!
Not a single piece of significant economic legislation put forth by the President has even been allowed to come to the House floor for a vote due to Republican filibusters----numbering in the 70's during the course of the Presidents term in office, thus far!
To the extent that Obama started to take his own 'Administrative Measures', not requiring Congressional consent, in order to bring some relief to the middle-class and trying to keep the economy moving in the right direction. DOES ANYONE PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS ANY MORE?
Now Romney and the GOP have the 'balls' to say it's the Presidents economic policies that are responsible for the suffering middle-class and slow recovery. What a Crock of Lies!!!

[crankyoleman]

I've seen this same post in several different threads. If you can't say anything related to the subject of the article, ****.

[Tommy_the_Brit]

What is clear is that President Obama's pathway to victory is straight and narrow; he has a variety of different paths along which he can walk to victory against an electoral arithmetic nightmare for Governor Romney (see my thoughts: http://******/FsfQv).

It would take a monumental upset in Obama's campaign, or a significant upturn in Romney's, for the Republicans to retake the presidency; it would be a taste of revenge for the Democrats if Romney were denied the White House in a similar manner to Gore in 2000.

[collie61]

Romney/Ryan please stay on point with the facts and plans. You have them running scared. I can tell by these postings. There is light at the end of this tunnel. "Hope" is gone but "Change" is comming.

[ongelooflijk-2009]

"Governor Romney.....for the middle class that has suffered under the Obama policies for the last four years."
The TRUTH:
'for the middle class that has suffered under Romney's GOP House Republican obstruction / blockage of Obama's economic policy legislation for the last four years!
Not a single piece of significant economic legislation put forth by the President has even been allowed to come to the House floor for a vote due to Republican filibusters----numbering in the 70's during the course of the Presidents term in office, thus far!
To the extent that Obama started to take his own 'Administrative Measures', not requiring Congressional consent, in order to bring some relief to the middle-class and trying to keep the economy moving in the right direction. DOES ANYONE PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS ANY MORE?
Now Romney and the GOP have the 'balls' to say it's the Presidents economic policies that are responsible for the suffering middle-class and slow recovery.

YEAH, THIS IS ROMNEY AND THE GOP'S NEW MANTRA AND IT'S CLEARLY A LOAD OF CRAP!!!

[collie61]

What does this have to do with the subject matter. Save the canned comment for another forum, you troll.

[mikesfilms]

2-face R&R will jerk your Medicare, no doubt about it. Health costs spiraling out of control. Merchants of Sickness making out like bandits (Reason Medical Care stocks are best investment in Wall St. and greedy health providers, insurance, and pharmacompanies hate Obamacare). US Health most expensive, but only 37th best (or worst) in the world. Paralyzed politicians don't do anything about it as they enjoy excellent health plans in Congress. Government (it's its job) has to step in to save the country' Health from collapse. The outcry vs Universal Care apes outcries in Canada, UK, Germany and other countries where Universal Care's established. Romney Care (Medicare vouchers and Medicaid Block Grants to states) will produce 72 million uninsured by 2030 (per Family USA) and treble costs to pay for the uninsured. Illegal aliens (McCain Immigration bill was killed by Repubs) plus 72 million uninsured are going to cost trillions to all taxpayers. Merchants of Sickness spending millions to brainwash the Average Joe against Obamacare. Per Kaiser Family Foundation, Romneycare would add more out of pocket expense nationwide to seniors, $200/mo in Florida (AP 10/16/12).

[collie61]

Another useless comment that does not address of the subject matter. Save it troll, for another day.

[carolo43]

Freeport, Illinois right now has a factory that is doing very well but it has been sold to Bain and shipping the jobs to China. The Chinese come in, took down the American flag and then our workers had to train them to do those jobs.

Romney is in a blind trust to this day with Bain so once again will line his pockets off american jobs. Look it up!

[carolo43]

Florida is surprising to me since they love their Medicare and Social Security so much. Medicare will be gone and I don't think Floridans understand that. Ryan even talks of privatizing Social Security. But they must be walking around with sun stroke because I can't believe they hand over their Medicare to Romney like they have. (And mine.)

If something was to happen to Romney, God Forbid, Ryan would be President. And he nows nothing about the ecomony or foreign affairs,

[collie61]

Thank you. The first comment that really deals with the subject matter.

[democraticnation]

If Romney wins then this country is going to hell in a hand basket. What is so stupid about the people that are voting for him, is that they don't realize that the middle class will be worse off. If you think it is bad now, just watch and see. Bush tore this country up and now you want to bring another republican back in the white house. Unless you are making over 100K a year, than you are very dumb to even think about voting Republican. Most people vote republican because it is a race issue! Not because it is really the right thing to do. Because if you really looked at the true facts then you would vote democratic. The democrats care about all american people and not just the rich. Plus romney has given you no evidence that he will do better, because he cant. Plus the troops will never get out of this war that is going on if you leave it up to him. Every word that has comes out of romney mouth is a lie......

[luthern79]

Right on Demo!!!!!!!!

[Fairforall]

Good to see nothing but blind Liberal puppets on here. Looks like obama funders found out how to do something other than facebook, and wellfare collection. Jesus christ if you understood a damn bit of government you'd understand they're all evil puppets. At least one has a successful record in getting a state out of debt. vs raising the national debt trillions. Obama couldn't ballance **** on a state level how would he do it nationally?

[khale223]

If his record was so successful in getting the state out of debt, how come he is bound to lose that state? They know him well in that state and they are running away from him as far away as possible!!!

[democraticnation]

You idiot and you think Romney will do better. Think about this; his own birth state and state that he governed is not supporting him. Which means he is full of bull crap. You will be scraping the bottom of the barrel like the rest of American people if Romney becomes president. Mark my words!