How Would You Advise Obama to Win in Florida?

[JSojourner]

Have at it, my fellow armchair politicos...(smartass answers welcome, but a few serious ones might also be helpful...)

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Spend a lot of time there, run an awesome amount of ads (in English and Spanish), avoid attacking McCain on age, and use surrogates (Graham, Nelson, etc.) as much as possible.

[Franzl]

hmm...I think a win is virtually impossible in Florida, so I can't really find a good way to do it.

My advice would be for Obama to campaign as much as he can in the state, even if he won't win it, he can make it competitive, and force McCain to spend more time there, thus perhaps helping us in other regions.

[exopolitician]

Ive been out of Florida too long...I dunno what issues are the most important there now. Hasnt the state been hit hard by the housing crisis? Maybe focus on that...plus talk about disaster relief, what can be done in the event 4 more storms demolish half the state in less than a couple months. Court older voters and Hispanics....yadda yadda yadda...bring out the youth vote and african american vote in parts of the state.

Im sure theres more but I cant think of any. :x

[JSojourner]

Ive been out of Florida too long...I dunno what issues are the most important there now. Hasnt the state been hit hard by the housing crisis? Maybe focus on that...plus talk about disaster relief, what can be done in the event 4 more storms demolish half the state in less than a couple months. Court older voters and Hispanics....yadda yadda yadda...bring out the youth vote and african american vote in parts of the state.

Im sure theres more but I cant think of any. :x

You hit on it.  Housing and Katrina.  The problem with Katrina is making Bush's scandalous failure akin to McCain.  I think it's almost impossible to imagine McCain being as callous, careless or cowardly as Bush (in anything, but especially a domestic crisis).  But if there's some way to ask Floridians if they want a Republican or a Democrat responding to their next hurricane, that might be the way to go.

And I agree -- Florida is probably out of reach for Obama but he must compete here and keep McCain pinned down.

[zombones]

if housing and Katrina is an issue.

Ad:  What was McCain doing the day Katrina hit New Orleans?

DUN DUN DUN



although obama may not win FL, he can force Republicans to spend their money here while Obama and the Dems spend elsewhere

[Ronnie]

Just don't put money into Florida.  The demographics are WAY against him, and he has virtually no chance of carrying the state unless there is a great depression until election time.

I would love him to campaign there, but it would be just stupid if he would, since he would have to build his base there practically by scratch. 

[War on Want]

I would go up to him and say "Don't win Florida," and walk away.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I'd advise him to try and run up big enough margins so he wins by 6-8% nationally, which would pull Florida left. He can't win there otherwise in a close race.

[ChrisFromNJ]

I'm not convinced that Florida won't shift to Obama towards September much like it did late in the 2000 campaign for Gore.

While it is a bit concerning for Obama to be down by so much there at this point, and I have been guilty of over-reaction about it, but I think to paint Florida as solid or comfortable red state is wrong. It'll be heavily contested, and McCain does not have the built in advantages inside the state like Bush did (like his brother being the governor).

[Conan]

I'm not convinced that Florida won't shift to Obama towards September much like it did late in the 2000 campaign for Gore.

While it is a bit concerning for Obama to be down by so much there at this point, and I have been guilty of over-reaction about it, but I think to paint Florida as solid or comfortable red state is wrong. It'll be heavily contested, and McCain does not have the built in advantages inside the state like Bush did (like his brother being the governor).

You're right, Florida isn't a comfortable red state. But it just so happens that we have a weak candidate there.

[Torie]

Convert to Judaism and hire Michael Jackson's face guy?

[Ronnie]

I'm not convinced that Florida won't shift to Obama towards September much like it did late in the 2000 campaign for Gore.

While it is a bit concerning for Obama to be down by so much there at this point, and I have been guilty of over-reaction about it, but I think to paint Florida as solid or comfortable red state is wrong. It'll be heavily contested, and McCain does not have the built in advantages inside the state like Bush did (like his brother being the governor).

1) It has shifted A LOT in the GOP's direction since 2004.

2) Obama suffers demographically

3) Too many old people

[12th Doctor]

1) How does he win FL... by losing the election in everyother state he could be spending time in.

2) How does he win the election, well, losing Florida doesn't help.  He's in quite a conundrum.

[Хahar 🤔]

Promise to end hurricanes and tornadoes forever:

[Joe Biden 2020]

I would tell him to spend money there to drain McCain in other regions (Southwest???).  Obama is fighting an uphill battle not just because of demographics and such, but because of the DNC and Howard Dean.  If they somehow don't get an acceptable result this Saturday, then there will undoubtedly be some otherwise Democratic voters stay home or skip that race because the DNC basically gave them the finger.  That may not be the right thing to do, but it will undoubtedly happen.

[SPC]

If Obama wants to win Florida, the first thing he should do is demand their delegates get seated.

[ChrisFromNJ]

1) It has shifted A LOT in the GOP's direction since 2004.

Based on?

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Well, Pennsylvania has a lot of old people, and he'll likely win the state.

I just don't see much from Florida that would make it a safe (+5) GOP state in the general even with Obama as the nominee.

[J. J.]

If Obama wants to win Florida, the first thing he should do is demand their delegates get seated.

It would help a bit.

Seriously, I'd advise him to abandon FL, and spend the money in MI, OH, and PA.