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    Florida Shaping Up for Wild Ride in 2012

    By Amanda Abella | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Mar 28, 2011
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    COMMENTARY | CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The 2012 presidential elections have begun as both Democrats and Republicans eye states that they have to win. Always on the list of key states is swing-voting, miscounting, hanging-chad daunting Florida.

    During the 2010 midterm elections, the GOP had an incredible sweep in the Sunshine State as Senator Marco Rubio dominated his opponents to win a seat in Washington. Likewise, GOP Governor Rick Scott beat out Democratic candidate Alex Sink with a simple yet effective message for recession weary Floridians, "Let's get to work!"

    The most recent elections may have very well proven that Floridians tend to be center right and anti-deficit, however you can always count on Florida to surprise everyone.

    Despite the victories, this by no means indicates that the GOP will have an easy 2012 election season in Florida. Likewise, it doesn't mean that President Obama has a great chance as he will have to reignite the magic that skyrocketed him to the top on 2008.

    Several media outlets including The Miami Herald and The St. Petersburg Times are already predicting that 2012 won't just be difficult for candidates vying for Florida, it may just turn out to be downright crazy. With new districts being drawn out , legislative candidates already opening fundraising accounts, and a 2012 legislative season starting two months early , Florida is shaping up to be quite the entertaining political battleground.

    Florida is no stranger to crazy elections. Hanging chads and pregnant chads were all the rage back in 2000 when President Bush eventually won the state after several recalls. Additionally, last year's bitter and highly publicized U.S. Senate race between GOP Marco Rubio and former GOP and newly Independent Charlie Crist once again made Florida a political hot seat. Even the gubernatorial elections had its hint of typical Florida crazy as the race was too close to call throughout the night and precincts were delayed in West Palm Beach due to a worker error.

    Historically speaking, Florida's GOP voters have always had a strong turnout, vastly outnumbering their Democratic counterparts. However, Obama was able to take the state in 2008 by winning over the Independent voters , a group he has been struggling to keep happy in recent months. Quinnipiac University also held a poll where 49 percent of Florida voters currently disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his job as president.

    Given the current political currents, it looks like Florida is once again going to give its voters (and the rest of the country) a wild ride.

    Fla. resident Amanda Abella writes about state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

     

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