With that said, it's going to be in the mid 60s today, so no complaints from this blogger in Northern Virginia. At least not about the weather. Not today.
As Floridians head to the voting booths to pick a favorite Republican in today's primary, I am mildly curious to see which presidential candidate emerges. The rhetoric has heated up in the Florida sun in recent days, but unfortunately rhetoric doesn't always equal intelligence or honesty on the GOP stage. So, one has to take what is said by these wannabe presidents with a grain of salt. From what I have seen so far, this is a particularly desperate and mean-spirited group of candidates that has only modestly improved by the worst of the lot dropping out in recent weeks.
Florida is a diverse state. Unlike the previous three state primaries, I view Florida as more representative of America. While Florida has its rebels, misfits and folks who act like they've been out in the sun a bit too long, overall there is a demographic balance in the state, which is why many presidential general elections are pretty darn close. The state is not simply made up of white, evangelical Christians, who tend to vote one way for generations. Florida sways back and forth in the warm Gulf breezes from year to year, decade to decade, as its population shifts.
I suspect Mitt Romney will be declared the winner this evening, not because he's head and shoulders above the others, but because he's closer to that sweet spot that appeals to a broader range of voters than exist in Iowa or South Carolina. Romney is the "safe" choice.
However, when the general election finally arrives in November, I can't envision President Obama losing the Sunshine State to Romney or anyone else. While the economy there is worse than most places, Florida is a state where seniors vote on issues like Medicare and Social Security. Too many threatening proposals about those programs have been suggested by Republicans for Obama to lose the senior vote.
The Cuban-Americans in South Florida have always leaned right, but a new generation of Latino voters is moving to the left. They are not tied to antiquated GOP ideas. The harsh tone of Republican stances on immigration will potentially sink the Romney ship in Florida in November, assuming he's the nominee. The red-meat immigration comments made to gain votes in conservative states will not be forgotten by the people of Florida or any other state where that type of thing rubs people wrong.
I've always been fascinated by Florida. Everything from its people to its politics is interesting to me. Its clean beaches and casual lifestyle is good for the soul. It's a place where young and old can feel they belong. You don't need to be wealthy to live well in Florida, although if you are, there is no shortage of places where you will fit in. You can be from somewhere else and still be accepted in Florida. That isn't always true in other southern states or even in places like New England.
Yes, Florida has problems. It always has. Sometimes, like now, it's the economy. Other times it's been the crime rate or political corruption that has spiraled out of control. Yet, Florida remains an attractive place to get away to -- whether for a week or a lifetime. When jobs return to Florida, I suspect the population will increase rapidly again, as it has for decades. And the only way for jobs to return to Florida is for the U.S. economy as a whole to improve. In that regard, I will continue to place my faith in Democrats and Independents, and only be a casual observer of the GOP results tonight. It is clear to me, despite comments from the GOP presidential candidates, that Republicans have no interest in rebuilding the middle class in Florida or anywhere else. Romney, in particular, seems clueless as to what the middle class even is, let alone how to rebuild it.
