Will Sunshine State Sway Red Or Blue?

(CBS)  For the series "Final Battleground," the CBS Evening News is traveling to three key areas of the country - the South, the Midwest and the West - to hone in on the states that will decide this presidential election. Florida is one state that could swing toward either Barack Obama or John McCain, CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports.

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Lifelong republican Jim Piccillo always thought he'd vote for John McCain. But as the Florida housing market crashed, so did the mortgage company he worked for. Two months ago, he lost his job.

"And then I watched the Republican National Convention, and it really hit a nerve," he said. "I was unemployed and watching the entire Republican delegation basically sit up and laugh at someone who helps the unemployed really affected me."

So much so that he's voting for Barack Obama. Former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco is switching sides too. He's a democrat who thinks John McCain has the experience to fix the economy.

"He is one hell of a man," Greco said. "There is no question. He sold me and what he is saying makes sense to me."

Both campaigns are trying to use the poor state of the Florida economy to their advantage, and there's no shortage of angry voters in the Sunshine State - with more than 600,000 people out of work, and nearly as many who've lost their homes to foreclosure in the past year.

What makes Florida a battleground is that Obama has the southeast - and its large number of African American, Jewish and liberal white voters. McCain is the favorite among military and socially conservative voters in the southwest and north. Both are fighting for the middle - the I-4 corridor - home to a diverse group of blacks, whites, hispanics, retirees and young workers - and nearly 40 percent of the state's independents.

"In the 2000 and 2004 elections, the Independent voters split right down the middle. This time out both parties are going after them heavy-duty" said political scientist Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida.

Both sides plan to spend the next crucial weeks trying to convert their neighbors - in a region that could decide whether Florida stays red or turns blue.

[albertw40]

Florida, like this whole election, will depend on the volunteers on the ground.

[indevoter]

It will all come down to turnout and in that catagory Republicans have the advantage, I hate to say.

[indevoter]

Lifelong republican Jim Piccillo always thought he''d vote for John McCain. But as the Florida housing market crashed, so did the mortgage company he worked for. Two months ago, he lost his job.

"And then I watched the Republican National Convention, and it really hit a nerve," he said. "I was unemployed and watching the entire Republican delegation basically sit up and laugh at someone who helps the unemployed really affected me."

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At the convention the Republican''s barely mentioned average people and they were in denile on the economy. Anyone who votes for 4 more years of republican leadership gets what they deserve.

[indevoter]

McCAIN is a BUSH 3rd term. McCAIN supported 4 of BUSH''s budgets and voted with him 95% of the time.

[indevoter]

IF YOU VOTED FOR ''''W. BUSH'''' TWICE, THEN YOUR OPINION IS NOT CREDIBLE.

Think about it. It is bad enough that you didn''''t see Bush''''s incompetence prior to his first term, but to repeat in 2004 your voting mistake in light of clear evidence of Bush''''s poor judgment is a wretched shame! And now you two-time Bush-backers have the audacity to pen your opinions on this commentary in support of a FAR WORST presidential ticket than Bush-Cheney. McCain-Palin is so pathetically worst than Bush-Cheney, that if Obama-Biden were not an available option, I would write-in Bush-Cheney for another 4 years.

YOU TWO-TIME BUSH-BACKERS HAVE NO CREDIBILITY ON THIS COMMENTARY. IT IS BETTER THAT YOU SAVE YOUR DIGNITY THAN TRY TO PROVIDE ANOTHER OPINION.

GOD Bless the United States of America!
GOD Bless the Obama-Biden Leadership Team!

Posted by Indepedent01 at 04:53 AM : Oct 19, 2008

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Amen!

[indevoter]

Amen!

[indepedent01]

IF YOU VOTED FOR ''W. BUSH'' TWICE, THEN YOUR OPINION IS NOT CREDIBLE.

Think about it. It is bad enough that you didn''t see Bush''s incompetence prior to his first term, but to repeat in 2004 your voting mistake in light of clear evidence of Bush''s poor judgment is a wretched shame! And now you two-time Bush-backers have the audacity to pen your opinions on this commentary in support of a FAR WORST presidential ticket than Bush-Cheney. McCain-Palin is so pathetically worst than Bush-Cheney, that if Obama-Biden were not an available option, I would write-in Bush-Cheney for another 4 years.

YOU TWO-TIME BUSH-BACKERS HAVE NO CREDIBILITY ON THIS COMMENTARY. IT IS BETTER THAT YOU SAVE YOUR DIGNITY THAN TRY TO PROVIDE ANOTHER OPINION.

GOD Bless the United States of America!
GOD Bless the Obama-Biden Leadership Team!

[euge005]

Never underestimate the ability of the democrats in Florida to Chaney up a done deal. I went to school in the north, grew up there and started my life as a Rockefeller repug. As much as I like Hockey, I would hate to move to Canada after McBush finished the job of destroying the country that Bush (2) and the first prime fool Ronnie started. God help the whole world if the forces of darkness claim another win.

[tkjayhawk]

Hmm, that is funny because Ronald Reagan opposed MLK day. McCain was also against MLK day. Get your facts straight dude. Typical Republican twisting the facts. Now whow are the racists???

"Ronald Reagan was also opposed to the holiday. He recanted only after Congress passed the King Day bill with an overwhelming veto-proof majority (338 to 90 in the House of Representatives and 78 to 22 in the Senate).[11] Prior to that date, New Hampshire and Arizona had not observed the day. Throughout the 1990s, this was heavily criticized."

"John McCain voted against the creation of the holiday to honor King"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Day

______________________________________________

Democrats hate Republicans. That is what we have been taught to believe. I have accepted the fact that most black Americans are Democrats. So my question is, do Democrats really hate Martin Luther King Jr.?
MLK was a registered Republican from 1956 and throughout his life. It was Ronald Reagan who signed the law to make MLK''''s birthday a national holiday, and it was the Republicans who overwhelmed the Democrats to grant Civil Rights to our black brothers. So why the hate? Because Democrat White Liberal Racists are really good liars.

Posted by forthinvader at 09:37 PM : Oct 18, 2008
+ report abuse

[tkjayhawk]

Hmm, that is funny because McCain was against MLK day.

"John McCain voted against the creation of the holiday to honor King, and later defended Arizona Republican Governor Mecham''s rescinding of the state holiday in honor of King created by his Democratic predecessor. After his opposition grew increasingly untenable, McCain reversed his position, and encouraged his home state of Arizona to recognize the holiday despite opposition from then-Governor Evan Mecham[10]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Day

______________________________________________

Democrats hate Republicans. That is what we have been taught to believe. I have accepted the fact that most black Americans are Democrats. So my question is, do Democrats really hate Martin Luther King Jr.?
MLK was a registered Republican from 1956 and throughout his life. It was Ronald Reagan who signed the law to make MLK''''s birthday a national holiday, and it was the Republicans who overwhelmed the Democrats to grant Civil Rights to our black brothers. So why the hate? Because Democrat White Liberal Racists are really good liars.

Posted by forthinvader at 09:37 PM : Oct 18, 2008
+ report abuse