The 2004 presidential campaign is being fought in a small number of swing states. Of these, one of the closest and most important is Florida. With more than five million people voting, the Florida recount in the 2000 election came down to 500 votes. So every shift is seismic in this state, and the campaigns are paying careful attention to its voters.
New numbers out this weekend from a New Hampshire polling firm, American Research Group, show an up tick in Sen. John Kerry's fortunes. He's now at 50 percent in Florida -- seven points ahead of President Bush.
NPR's Linda Wertheimer made a visit earlier this week to the Florida Panhandle, an area that was solidly for Bush in the last election. From a barbecue joint and a book club in Panama City, to a retired businessmen's breakfast club in Marianna, she talks with voters about what issues are important to them, what their doubts are, and who they'll cast their vote for in the 2004 presidential election.
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