‘Where do they fit in?’: Election impact on the state of Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — From an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump to day one of the Republican National Convention and Trump making his vice presidential pick, politics is taking center stage across the nation, especially here in Florida.

“Listen, the average voter in Tampa Bay is watching the Republican National Convention, wanting to know where do they fit in?” political analyst Tara Newsom said. “Especially when it comes to abortion rights with amendment four on the ballot, we know that many Floridians like the protections that Roe v. Wade offered them and they also like the limitations.”

Newsom said with amendment four on the November ballot, abortion is a big concern for Florida voters.

She noted Trump’s new running mate, J.D. Vance is someone that is personally pro-life, but comes from a state that enshrined the right to choose.

“In Florida, the thought is that perhaps the selection of J.D. Vance will temper and moderate those who are coming out to vote, not just to vote at the top of the ticket but to vote for amendment four,” she said. “It might just slow them down from running to race out to the ballot box, because they’re not so worried, knowing that Vance comes from a state that had a more reasonable approach to protecting abortion rights.”

So who is JD Vance?

The 39-year-old from Ohio is a Yale-educated Marine who fought in the Iraq War and is married to a woman who is a lawyer and someone of color.

It’s a mix Newsom called “the American dream.”

“He’s the right calculus to resonate with not only Republicans on the national convention, but to Floridians, who often live a very diverse life, but find themselves in that narrative of the Republican Party,” Newsom said.

President Joe Biden noted Vance’s similar opinions to Trump Monday.

“He’s a clone of Trump on the issues,” Biden said.

But will that shift even further to the right resonate with the Florida voter?

“Remember, Florida though is new to the red,” Newsom said. “We were purple for so many years, so for those moderate Republicans, this shift even farther right with J.D. Vance and the alignment with very conservative MAGA principles, it may be a step too far.”

With a lot of focus on the Republican Party this week, how are Democrats moving forward?

“I think Joe Biden is left paralyzed,” Newsom said. “His campaign is left with a pause.”

“They certainly can’t use their strict messaging that Trump is dangerous to democracy for fear of being apart of the rhetoric that lead to the political violence this past weekend, so what can their message be?” Newsom said.

As Democrats try to answer that question, Newsom said this presidential election is far from over in the Sunshine State.

“Although we’re having a great week celebrating the Republicans, I don’t think the Democrats should be counted out yet because they are known to come back and and come back swinging,” she said.

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