[OrioleFan]

I would venture to guess because they get to count the military vote this time and panhandle folks won't stay home when the networks call the contest before the polls close.

[CMAC51]

I would venture to guess because they get to count the military vote this time and panhandle folks won't stay home when the networks call the contest before the polls close.

I think we have seen an awful lot of internal problems showing up in the Demo machine in Broward and Dade counties. The more the Demo's have to focus their energy holding those counties together, the less they have for the rest of the state.

[EllaMinnow]

Let me add this about Florida. Four years is a long time when you are in your 70s and 80s. Many of the retirees from the Northeast who settled on Florida's Atlantic coast, will (ahem) not be voting again.
The latest group of Florida retirees, usually in their early 60s, are moving here from the Midwest, and trend more Republican than the older group.

In addition to not having a time-zone mix-up again, the west Panhandle cities of Pensacola and Panama City are always at their most bustling during wartime.

I feel much better about Florida since Jeb's very convincing win in 2002.