Heated Race In Fla. Recalls Election 2000 Fiasco; Focus Turning To Youth Voters
It's a political frenzy in Florida! Both Democrat and Republicans say they have the edge going into Tuesday and will capture the Sunshine State's 27 electoral votes. There is little doubt the battle will go down to the wire.
One thing, at least, seems certain. Unless there is a landside victory for one of the Presidential candidates nationally, Florida -- once again, as in 2000 -- could be the site of major post-election controversy.
There have been dozens of reports of intimidation, supposedly missing ballots, and
attempts to mislead those exercising their right to vote for the first time. And, of course,
there are complaints that a shortage of machines and a long ballot in three languages --
English, Spanish, Creole -- has plagued those waiting in early voting lines and struggling to reach a designated polling spot -- some enduring as long as a five hour wait.
Despite the criticism, poll problems, the mean-spirited robocalls and literature flooding Florida homes, early signs do show a dramatic surge for the Democrats. The Miami Herald reported Saturday -- with only hours left for early voting (enhanced with extended time by an executive order of Gov. Charlie Crist) -- that Democrats have increased their share of early and absentee ballots. The same report noted that Republicans are "maintaining an edge with Hispanic voters." Approximately 3.4 million of Florida's voters cast early or absentee ballots and, according to reports, 46 percent of them are registered Democrats, compared to 38 percent Republicans. Both parties suggest they have the upper hand with the remaining independent or unaffiliated voters. These figures are a direct opposite of voting trends four years ago.
Despite these figures titling to the Democrats, party officials are concerned about the final push being made by the GOP. At least seven separate brochures attacking Sen. Barack Obama -- along with robocalls giving "false information" on Democratic positions -- have flooded the mails.
"I have never seen such hateful literature in a campaign," one elderly voter said.
Despite the barrage of anti-Obama brochures and the reactions the barrage is eliciting, polls still show the Democratic nominee with a slight edge. Party leaders point to the record number of early voters, the campaigning in Florida by Tipper and Al Gore this weekend, the 30-minute nationally televised infomercial, a stadium-full of South Florida voters mid week for Obama, and the largest political rally in memory with Obama and President Bill Clinton in the Orlando area giving impetus to the belief the Democrats may be on en-route to packing in the State's 27 electoral votes.
"Forget about the polls. The main item is how all this activity and media blitz is helping Obama dominate the news as this campaign winds down," says Hindi Diamond, a veteran international journalist and vice president of the South Florida Press Club.
TV newscasters have been downplaying their own take on polls, basically because of the large number of new, younger voters who may or may not actually go to the polls.
Now, comes reports that Sen. Obama and Sen. John McCain will both make appearances once again in Florida prior to the Nov. 4 election. Both candidates have been in Florida this past week and both have an army of surrogates pleading their case As many as four out of state governors, Veep nominee Joe Biden, and dozens of film and stage celebrities have beeen stumping for Obama while some lesser known politicos are surrogates for the McCain-Palin ticket.
Democrats in South Florida have enlisted a contingent of several hundred attorneys to aid voters who are either being harassed with misleading or false information or are being denied their right to vote. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Saturday on page one that there is an attempt to mislead some voters, telling them by phone that one must wear a certain kind of dress-up clothing in order to vote and others are being misled into thinking they can vote by phone. According to the newspaper's political writer Anthony Man, both the the Broward (Fort Lauderdale) Election office and Palm Beach supervisor "have been trying to debunk the reports."
Almost everyone agrees that there is one factor still an unknown in Florida -- Just how many of young voters will actually go to the polls.
Two big pushes occurred this weekend. Sen. Hillary Clinton was in Miami urging a last-minute call for early voting by young Obama supporters. And older voters heard from Tipper and Al Gore, who made campaign appearances in vote-rich Broward county.
Despite the early voting trend dominance by Democrats, pundits remind everyone that those registered in North Florida have been aligned with conservative politicians, despite their party affiliation. The GOP is counting on those North Florida Democrats switching to McCain and offsetting their progressive counterparts in the southern part of the State.
Key to a possible Obama win are several thousand volunteers and campaign workers going door to door to get people to the polls. The ground game is expected to be the most influential part of the campaign. Workers are using a quote from President Clinton as they urge voters to the polls: "Vote this year ... this is America's future and Obama represents the future."
President Clinton -- during his rally with Obama -- made remarks being picked up all over the State. He reminded the TV audience that, the U.S. has lost 760,000 jobs thus far this year and that pensions are disappearing and family income is down during the eight years of a Republican presidency.
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like is say to all the young people i meet......
I early-voted today east of Tampa and the only problem was the three hour wait. Some of us suffered from stiff legs, backaches, exhaustion, whiny children, chilly weather, and mind-numbing boredom but once we got inside the process was smooth and professional. There seemed to be an emphasis on kindness and good will by voters & staff alike -- we were a very mixed crowd of all races and ages -- it almost felt like a revival meeting. Was it because we were largely a Democratic crowd -- several people wore Obama/Biden tees & no one hassled them -- I don't know. One or two rednecks slowed down and seemed to try and menace the many clusters of black folk but nothing came of it, thank God. For all the trouble it was worth it. :)
The aticle is right about those Northern Floriday counties (think the ones bordering Georgia) that have
large Democratic registration numbers but these are mainly Reagan Democrats who will not vote for Obama. In 2004, there was a lot made of the fact that these counties voted for Bush overwhelmingly but had majority Dem registration, so, some concluded, this was evidence of voter fraud. No, it was just evidence that the yahoos up there vote for local Dem pols but inevitably support the Repub candidate for Senate, House and Presidency. On the other hand, the overall numbers pale in comparison with what
new registrations along the coasts and in the South could bring the Dems. If the turnout is there....a
LISTEN ALL: Please Go Vote! There has been confirmed reports of voter disenfranchisement and election fraud with the Republican Party and it's supporters. Obama is need of all the votes necessary to create a landslide. Let's make sure that our state turns blue! Bring your friends and family - make it a group thing! Wouldn't you want to say 1 year from now, 5 years from now, or even 20 years from now that you contributed to the most highlighted election in US history? Wouldn't you be proud to tell your kids/grandkids years from now that you voted for this election? It will be the most talked about election for centuries. Voting is a right and a privilege. Let's all make history together!
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The Republicans are Crooks!
They represent greed, hate, fear, intimidation, intolerance, ignorance, racism and bigotry.
And yet they call themselves good American Christians?
Bill Clinton's remarks in Florida about all of the lost jobs in Florida were excellent & very helpful. I am glad to hear that they have been widely circulated in Fl.
HuffPo should post the video of Bill speaking with this article.
When I visited Florida in April, the economy seemed stagnant, and I believe it is and will continue to be one of the states hardest hit by the housing disaster. Change is certainly needed there.
I am wondering if the campaigns are hitting the campuses to remind the young people to vote AGAIN lie they did in the primaries.
Obama/Biden 08/12
My folks live in Palm Beach County. They voted early (for Obama).
The voting machines there now offer a paper trail, at least. But that doesn't quell the fear that Florida may very well, once again, be THE deciding factor in this election. All I can say is thank God Kathryn Harris is history.
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