What's wrong with Florida?

From The Tallahassee Democrat, updated 9:20 a.m: "A poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University gives Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama a razor-thin 47-45 lead over Republican John McCain in Florida, [unlike Florida] but impressive leads in the other key swing states of Ohio, (50-43) and Pennsylvania, (52-42.)" "Updated: Polls suggest Florida too close to call as McCain, Obama work on final push". See also "Two polls show Obama with slim advantage over McCain in Florida".

More from Adam Smith: "Tight race in Florida heads to the finish line". See also "Last, urgent dash for Florida votes".




McCain brings hate-talk express to final Fla. rally in Tampa

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain will hold his last rally in Florida in Tampa." "McCain to hold final Fla. rally in Tampa".

Tampa ... how appropriate. McHate's "AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK campaign message will no doubt resonate strongly among RPOFers in Hillsborough. That message, and the delightful assertion that "If Obama is elected we will have people swinging from trees and scratching their armpits forever" are locks to bring the Tampa crowd to its feet.

If the wingnuts are lucky, they might even hear, from the RPOF bigwigs standing alongside McBush on the dais, "a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama", followed by a thunderous refrain of "kill him" from the Buschco-McSame choir in the crowd.

Today: "Both polls showed McCain with a significant lead among white voters".

Update: To be fair to Hillsborough folks, it ain't just them; some of their neighbors to the West seem to share similar sentiments:

All along First Avenue North, campaign signs are plunged into front yards. McCain-Palin signs are here and there, facing the westbound traffic and so are Obama-Biden signs.

There are signs urging voters to vote no on Amendment 2 and even some opposing a new baseball stadium.

Passers-by are slapped with political overload when they hit a front yard just west of 63rd Street North.

"Vote Right" shouts one homemade sign in big red letters on a white background. "Vote White" is another, tacked high onto the trunk of a towering oak tree.

A plywood cutout of a Black Sambo figure sits next to another tree, under a large sign that says, "Hasta La Vista Obama" and "What About Galveston." The underlying message of that sign was unclear.

"'Vote White' Sign Has Neighbors Talking In St. Pete".




Into the heart of darkness

"Obama to have final Fla. rally in Jacksonville"*.

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*While we're on the subject of Jax, you may be interested in that community's most recent "hotly debated issue": "Will it still be Forrest High in Duval County?" ("The Duval County School Board is taking up the issue of whether a high school should continue to bear the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was a Confederate general, slave trader and early Ku Klux Klan leader").




"Record-shattering"

"A record-shattering 4.2 million Floridians already have voted by casting absentee ballots or going to polls early, including thousands who stood in lines for hours across South Florida on Sunday." "South Floridians line up for hours, stay late to cast early ballots". See also "Early voting crushes records". See also "Long lines wrap up early voting".




Welcome to Florida

"Hip-hop stars stump for Obama in South Florida". More: "McCain appeals to Florida with 1 day left", "Rudy Giuliani urges Winter Park crowd to 'go out and get another vote'", "Biden, Giuliani rally Fla. supporters", "Biden throws punches, makes pitch for crucial votes" and "Biden stumps in Tallahassee as campaign comes to a close".




"'A little schizophrenic'"

"The secretary of state is at the center of the storm this week, with Floridians voting in record numbers. While he admits to getting 'a little schizophrenic' in the fall of even-numbered years, Browning is confident that everything has been done to prepare for the onslaught." "Browning: Florida is ready for Election Day".




Secret, secret ...

"Opponents of a Florida constitutional amendment that would define marriage are headed to court demanding to know who is paying for the supporters' campaign." "Marriage amendment heads to court over donations".




"Unease has struck Republican candidates for local office"

"Unease has struck Republican candidates for local office in Pinellas County who fear that support for Sen. Barack Obama will diminish their chances for victory Tuesday."

Feeding the disquiet is an ambitious county Democratic Party "Vote Local" effort. Using traditional mail and door-to-door campaign tactics, plus targeted Internet ads, the party is banking on Obama fervor to propel its candidates to triumph.

"'Vote Local' tactic unnerves some Republicans".




McCain throws a tantrum

"Hundreds of thousands of pages of what appear to be voter survey documents were found strewn along a section of Interstate 4 early this morning." "Papers With Hillsborough Voter Info Found On I-4".




Maitland housewife comes home to mommy

Mike Thomas wants to share his wisdom with you on the eve of the election. "Despite flaws, McCain's plan is a better starting point to health-care reform".




<Not a good visual

Not sumthin' I wanna see: "Impromptu conga lines have broken out on the floor. U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, urged the crowd to disprove polls that show Democrat Barack Obama ahead in Florida." "Republican leaders rouse crowd waiting for McCain in Coral Gables".




Foreclosures

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Home prices were way overinflated by the end of 2005 and had to come down. In South Florida, the market is starting to send signals - in the form of increased home sales - that they've come down enough. To reinforce that perception, the Bush administration should move quickly to add and broaden programs to help individual homeowners who are facing foreclosure." "Next for economic rescue: Homes facing foreclosure".




... "short"

"Kevin Griffin and Mike Selkey have followed the campaigns every step of the way. In the midst of a historic election, it's hard to tune out the coverage. Both young men are not going to make it to the polls this Tuesday through no fault of their own. They'll both turn 18 on Nov. 5. That's right, the day after Election Day." "Florida pair is a day late and a vote short".




"To carry something with difficulty"

"So much for the Great Schlep. That's what Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman is calling her effort to get Jewish grandchildren to urge their Florida grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. 'Schlep' is a Yiddish term that means to carry something with difficulty. It can also mean an arduous journey." "The Great Schlep is not so great".