Get ready, Florida voters. You’re about to see even more of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
After Monday night’s ballyhooed presidential debate, Trump and Clinton will quickly try to grab momentum in Florida. The Clinton campaign didn’t wait for the debate to start, dispatching vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine to the critical state ahead of time to try to lock down votes.
Trump is scheduled to jet into Florida on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. appearance at Melbourne International Airport. Trump probably doesn’t have to worry much about winning Melbourne and surrounding Brevard County, solidly Republican territory where GOP voters outnumber registered Democrats by about 40,000.
But Trump and Clinton both need party loyalists to turn out in the Nov. 8 election.
That likely explains Clinton’s plan to campaign Friday in Broward County, the place where Democrat candidates always go to try to amass votes. Broward was also friendly territory for Clinton during her fierce presidential primary against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, with Clinton scooping up about 72 percent of the vote in the county.
Also during her campaign swing Friday, Clinton is scheduled to go a little ways up Interstate 95 to St. Lucie County. While St. Lucie is a mid-sized county, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, and the county went heavily for Clinton in the presidential primary.
While Clinton works Southeast Florida, her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will campaign Friday and Saturday across the top of the state. While full details had not been released Monday morning, Bill Clinton is expected to make stops in Panama City, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
Tallahassee, home to a large number of government workers and two state universities, is a Democratic stronghold. Also, while Jacksonville typically goes for Republicans in statewide races, it has a large number of African-American voters — a group that Hillary Clinton is looking to turn out.
Bill Clinton’s plan to campaign in Panama City is a little more unusual, as Republicans dominate Northwest Florida. Bay County, which includes Panama City, has nearly two times as many registered Republicans as Democrats.
Meanwhile, Kaine, a Virginia senator, tried to rally support for Clinton in advance of the debate. He appeared Sunday in Miami and was scheduled to campaign Monday in Lakeland and Orlando, including attending a debate-watching party at Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. He also is expected to make an appearance at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in Orlando.
Florida’s 29 electoral votes are among the biggest prizes in the presidential election, making up more than 10 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Recent polls have showed Trump and Clinton in a virtual dead heat in the state, with a Suffolk University poll last week giving Trump a one-point edge — a statistical tie.
–Jim Saunders, news Service of Florida
daveT says
No matter who wins this debate or the election. America loses
Anonymous says
Im with Dave.
tulip says
@ DAVE T I totally agree with you. I wonder how many will actually not vote for either one and how many will vote for Johnson. I’m not going to vote for any of them, but will vote in the other races.
The debate was exhausting to listen to.
David S says
What a joke !!!
Freddy says
When Hillary was pressing Trump for his income tax return he should have answered ” I sent a copy to your personal email did you get it”?
Ron says
Hillary had 25 plus years in public service. Now she says we can get it done. Typical politican will say and do anything to get your vote. Once elected they do not want to hear from you. It is time for a real change. I am voting for a non politican with many accomplishments in the private sector. I will be voting for Donald Trump! He gets things done.
Knightwatch says
Trump once and for all exposed himself as a loudmouth one-trick pony. Insult, interrupt and bully your opponent with incomprehensible babble. Except it didn’t work. Secretary Clinton held firm and resolute. She took charge at the 10-minute point of a 90-minute “debate”, put Trump on the defensive, deflated his 6’3′, 236lb body (and 500lb ego) to the size of a 10-year old, and sent him to the corner on a time out. She showed the savvy, toughness and, yes, stamina, born of years on the political and diplomatic front lines defending this country. Trump merely snorted, snuffled, obfuscated and blathered.
Hillary 1, Trump 0.
Rosie M. says
Just remember, all of the promises made during a presidential campaign to create more grants and improve more social programs, that all monies comes from the Federal budget. Where does the federal government get all of this money in there federal budget that they give away? You and I the taxpayers. We are the only real source of money the government has other than the occasional fine on some company who gets caught doing something wrong and is fined. This country is nearly 20 trillion dollars in debt now, It is costing nearly 1/3 of our tax revenues just to pay the interest on this debt. We cannot keep adding programs and spending money we don’t have. Complete collapse of the economy is right around the corner if more revenue is not created and a decrease in federal spending is not somehow accomplished.
So when you cheer about a politician creating a new program with federal money to win more votes, remind yourselves where the government is getting the money from to give away. Just saying!!!
Geezer says
That first debate is a national disgrace. It’s mind-boggling how undignified, and lowbrow
this presidential race has descended. This is but a harbinger of the undoing and collapse
of the United States.
Imagine if you will: one of these clowns will represent us on the world stage and set policies.
This is a sad time for all of us, regardless of political leanings.
I sincerely hope that we all learn from this and demand more suitable and dignified candidates
in future elections.
This is an American tragedy–our personal tragedy.