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Battle for Swing States: Florida

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    Major factors in race for the Sunshine State

  • Duration 4:19
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Take you inside America's election headquarters right now governor Mitt Romney easy in Florida making his third trip to Jacksonville in the last month.

He is splitting Florida duty with his wife and who is holding her own rally in Largo to the south.

Former President Bill Clinton is -- Orlando he's campaigning for President Obama who was in the sunshine state over the weekend.

So let's take a look at Florida it is perhaps the biggest prize of all of the swing states.

And the Florida economy is issue number one as it is across much of the country the unemployment rate eight point eight per -- a full half point higher.

Than the national unemployed -- unemployment rate.

In the rest of the country in July.

The foreclosure rate about twice as bad as it is in the rest of the country one in every 352.

Housing units.

Received a foreclosure filing in July nationally.

One in every 686.

Gas prices in Florida it's a big tourism state the price of gas pretty important three dollars and 79 cents a gallon.

Each candidate he's taking it very seriously.

President Obama has made six visits there governor Romney six visits as well during this campaign season.

Take a look at the presidential race polls according to the real clear politics average 48 point 3%.

For the president 46 point 3% for governor Romney.

So 29 electoral votes are up for grabs in Florida let's talk about it with Steve boss today he is the Tallahassee bureau chief for the Tampa Bay times.

Look at these poll numbers pretty tight according to the real clear politics average Steve.

What's the trend.

While the trend is it's a big tossup race it's basically a tie John but but the polls do show the president with this narrow advantage.

In these last few weeks -- have what what you're seeing there I think our number of things but you know Florida has a large and growing Hispanic population.

You got to give the edge big -- to President Obama -- -- Romney does better with male voters white men particularly.

It's no coincidence that -- Romney and former President Bill Clinton are both in the center of the state today because that's the real battleground in Florida generally.

Is the I four corridor.

Between Orlando and Tampa.

And it's it's interesting to -- Clinton.

And made.

I guess gave a speech yet to Florida international university and you know on number of the students who were there barely remember his presidency.

Yeah that's -- thing but but he is and he's in Orlando today.

But he isn't still a major calling card for super voters -- Democrats who get out and vote.

Particularly the elderly.

And to have with college students the thing off Florida -- is that it's a true microcosm of the entire country -- a little bit of everything and in fact there's a lot of everything here college students.

A big Tea Party movement.

Hispanics -- a lot of African Americans and an important area for Romney took to focus on is there's a huge military and retired military population Florida to.

But you didn't mention well okay you mentioned retired -- -- -- didn't really mention the seniors specifically Medicare is a huge issue Paul Ryan brought on board in part because of his expertise on Medicare.

Is it helping or hurting.

The Romney campaign because you know the the president's campaign -- made a big deal out of Paul Ryan and his budget and and essentially saying.

You know that this is the guy who's going to -- Medicare for using.

Yeah I don't think that the Romney Ryan's campaign has made the sale on -- and the changes to Medicare.

You know as you've been indicated at the top of people in the state feel a tremendous amount of economic and security.

And maybe they're gonna be a little bit less receptive to talk about the remaking Medicare.

Paul Ryan was very well received at the villages in Central Florida again I four corridor.

But the villages is atypical in that it is a little bit younger and look a lot more affluent than many of your retirement communities in Florida.

An important placed on the will be watching to see how Ryan's message on Medicare those cells is in a place like Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County is.

Leans democratic and has a big elderly population Steve boss -- in Tallahassee there Steve it's good to have -- -- we'll check in with you again before the election thanks.

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