Florida Democrats Cut Traditional Republican Lead
By Michael C. Bender - Oct 15, 2012 12:00 AM ET
Republicans and Democrats in Florida are casting early mail ballots in similar numbers, wiping away an advantage that Republicans have typically held in the swing state and posing a potential setback for Mitt Romney, the party’s presidential candidate.
Republicans have dominated early absentee voting in recent Florida elections, which Democrats traditionally offset with higher turnout at polling places open prior to Election Day. During the first week of mail voting in advance of the Nov. 6 election, Democrats are slightly behind Republicans.
“It’s not good news for Republicans,” said Brad Gomez, a political science professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, who studies voter turnout. “Republicans would prefer their advantage they’ve seen in past years.”
Small shifts in voting can have a significant impact in Florida, one of the states that strategists in both parties say will help determine whether President Barack Obama is re- elected. Three of the past five presidential elections in the state have been decided by less than three percentage points, including Republican George W. Bush’s 537-vote victory in 2000 that won him the White House. Florida was one of nine states that Bush carried in winning re-election in 2004 and that Obama, a Democrat, won in 2008.
more:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-15/florida-democrats-cut-traditional-republican-lead-in-mail-votes.html
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