Q Poll: Obama increases leads in swing states, including Florida

"Barack Obama would beat his leading Republican rivals in the must-win swing states of Florida and Ohio, according to a new poll that indicates the president is getting help from the improving economy and the GOP is struggling with women voters."

Obama, edges Mitt Romney by a 49-42 percent margin in Florida and has a slightly smaller 6 percentage point lead over the Republican in Ohio, the Quinnipiac University poll shows.

Obama’s leads are outside the poll’s 2.8 percentage-point error margin, meaning he has a statistically significant advantage in the nation’s two largest up-for-grabs states.

"If history repeats itself, that means he would be re-elected," Peter A. Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac’s Polling Institute, said in a written statement. "But the election is not today. It is seven months away. Two months ago President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were in a statistical tie in Ohio and Florida."

"Poll shows economy, women voters boost Barack Obama over Mitt Romney in Florida".

And it isn't just Florida:

FLORIDA: Obama 49 - Romney 42; Obama 50 - Santorum 37 OHIO: Obama 47 - Romney 41; Obama 47 - Santorum 40 PENNSYLVANIA: Obama 45 - Romney 42; Obama 48 - Santorum 41

In his best showing in this election cycle, President Barack Obama pulls away from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in two critical swing states, while a third state remains too close to call, according to today's Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"March 28, 2012 - Women Favor Obama In Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll Finds; Economy, Health Care Top Voter Concerns". See also "Poll: Obama leads Romney, Santorum in key swing states including Florida" and "".




"Scramble for seats"

"As the Florida Legislature finished its historic special session and sent a revamped redistricting map back to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, another kind of history was being made. Dozens of state House members were voluntarily house hunting, running for a different office, or planning to sit out the next legislative session to avoid a matchup with another lawmaker." "Scramble for seats begins". See also "Florida House OKs redraw of Senate district lines, but misgivings persist" and "Legislature sends state Senate redistricting map to Florida Supreme Court".




"Textbook packing" of Hispanics"?

"However, a number of South Florida Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the map, questioning the lack of Hispanic representation in South Florida, which could set the map up for rejection by the U.S. Department of Justice under the federal Voting Rights Act."

House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, said the Senate map is “textbook packing” by shifting Hispanics and carving the Hispanic population of Miami-Dade County into three of four districts.

"Hispanic Lines in South Florida Could Trip up Senate Map".




Wage theft ordinance ruled consistent with home rule

"Judge Lester Langer writes that Miami-Dade County 'had the right, pursuant to a proper exercise of its police powers which are constitutionally guaranteed under the Home Rule Charter to enact the ordinance to prevent the theft of wages for working people in Dade County.'" "Miami judge rules in favor of county’s anti-wage theft program".




GOPers "totally desperate to politicize anything"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It would be difficult to find fault with what President Obama said regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting. Difficult, that is, unless you're running for the Republican presidential nomination, and you are totally desperate to politicize anything."GOP politicizing Trayvon Martin".

Related: "PolitiFact Florida: Drop in violent crime appears unrelated to 'stand your ground'". See also "NRA ready to stand its ground over Stand Your Ground" and "House Speaker Dean Cannon wants to wait and see in Trayvon Martin case" and "Trayvon rumors abound, but here are facts".




Puffing Webster

"Dan Webster: From Afghanistan to Limbaugh".




Aren't they all

"Prosecutor at center of Trayvon Martin case known as tough, hard-nosed".




What a deal: 76% of the pollution, only 24% of the cost

"The Everglades Foundation on Monday released a report showing that 76 percent of phosphorous pollution entering the Everglades comes from agricultural operations while that sector pays only 24 percent of the cost." "Everglades report points finger at agriculture for cleanup costs".




Fla-baggers demand veto, will Scott dis them?

"The Tea Party Network is urging Gov. Rick Scott to veto a Medicaid bill (H.B. 5301) that would shift costs from the state’s Medicaid program to counties throughout Florida." "Tea party group asks Scott to veto Medicaid bill".




"Leap of logic"?

The New York Times reports "that Florida’s controversial new voting law has caused numerous third-party voter registration groups to completely suspend their efforts due to onerous new restrictions the law imposes on them."

Already, the Times reports, the state is facing a significant decrease in voter registration numbers in Florida compared to the last presidential election. However, a spokesperson for the Florida State Department tells the newspaper that it is a “leap of logic” to blame the decrease in numbers on the state’s new elections law.

"State Department claims elections law not to blame for drop in Florida voter registration".




Bondi, Rubio bla, bla, blah

"What they're saying about the Supreme Court arguments". Meanwhile, "PolitiFact: Obama ad's on the money about Medicare drug savings".




Civil liberties of protesters at Republican Convention in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "This summer's Republican National Convention will put Tampa in the spotlight like never before. And that attention brings an added responsibility on the city to protect the civil liberties of protesters and the public even amid unprecedented security. The city needs to be thoughtful and accommodating as it looks to change local laws that govern when and how demonstrators and other groups may gather." "Find a balance on rights, security".