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Which way is Florida leaning in 2012 race?

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    A look at tight Sunshine State battle

  • Duration 4:34
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Headquarters in the little more than a month before the today -- taking a look at the battleground state.

That could decide the race for the White House was hit about all about -- -- paid -- but today ever gonna focus on Florida.

-- folks and that -- have voted for the winner and seven.

-- the last eight presidential election so let's take a little look.

At this sunshine state has -- elect -- all -- you can see that -- 29 is one of the biggest states as far as like -- votes in our country.

If we take a look at the economy as well that's been a big issue.

Up first -- state of Florida -- the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the national average and housing we've talked a lot about the housing market and housing crash.

And the state of Florida you can see that it's one in every 300 -- -- housing units for perspective this means that Florida this -- if Florida is second in the country.

When it comes to foreclosure rates.

The first by the way the state of Illinois I was I -- was interesting to not talk a lot about Illinois.

I would because the housing crisis -- Florida number two in the country.

When we take a look at the polling -- today this is one particular poll from the Tampa Bay times.

And a variety of different newspapers in the state of Florida you can see that it's a very close race.

We'll talk about some the other polls as well that we've seen in the state of Florida being that such a big state out with our -- now he's George Bennett he's the staff writer for the Palm Beach post.

-- -- it's one poll that shows very little changed.

I would and you look at the candidates -- what they've done in this state over the last couple months what's your general senses -- to which way the state of Florida is leaning.

Well I think give you -- it's it's very close here most of the polls have shown Obama up by a few points but -- -- within the margin of error so it's it's very tight here in Florida.

What's to be working for either candidates what do you think is -- the sticking point for either one -- their strengths in the state of Florida.

Well Romney has faced a lot of his campaign on the economy in the economy continually shows up to be a major concern and and people aren't satisfied the economy and generally that reflects on the incumbents so that's.

Probably Romney's strongest point.

And the president though I mean despite the economy the president has continued to two poll even -- or slightly ahead of Romney here so.

You know it's -- it's hard to say how it's gonna play out.

Let's have a little bit and that's -- specific at the voting groups in Florida.

One being the Jewish vote in Florida were awaiting the prime minister and Israel Netanyahu to address the UN today.

The State of Israel certainly is in the top in the news how is that affected the Jewish vote if at all in the state of Florida and how important is that voting block for whoever wins there.

Sure -- -- Florida has the largest Jewish population of any swing state.

Jewish voters here maybe 5% or less of the electorate but but Florida's had these historically close elections so.

Every four years -- a big fight over the Jewish vote and Jewish voters go overwhelmingly democratic but Republicans always hoped to shave a few points off that.

In the hopes of if it's a close election that that could make a difference.

Obama got between 75 and 80% of the Jewish vote for years ago there was a poll recently that showed him getting about 69 or 70% here.

If that held up -- that would be significant if you had another 537.

Vote election here like there wasn't 2000.

Can't we can't forget that election that's for sure let's talk a little bit about the elderly as well we talked about entitlements Medicare.

-- Medicaid.

Yeah Paul Ryan with his plan.

How do you think that's gone over with the elderly in Florida is -- a general understanding but -- Either candidates perspective on entitlements and again which wade is it seemed to be playing right now.

Well in -- seniors were the only group that that voted.

For McCain in Florida for years ago I think Obama carried every other age group.

And then two years ago in the mid term elections.

Seniors went heavily Republican because of concerns about that Medicare changes in the health care law.

It's hard to say right now whether Republicans are gonna be able to maintain that advantage that they had there's certainly been.

A lot of criticism of the Ryan plan I haven't seen a lot of detailed numbers in the last week or so as far as how it's playing out -- know initially.

When he first name Ryan.

Seniors were still.

More support of -- Romney than Obama in Florida but I don't know how that's trending in the last couple.

-- -- -- it seemed vague and that's where brat with a lot of the battleground states forty days ahead of the voting day George thank you very much for your perspective nice to have you with us.

Sure thing thanks.

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