NY.– Donald J. Trump and Ron DeSantis remade Florida and placed it at the center of the Republican universe, transforming the state into a bastion of power for their party.
But now, recent polls show a close presidential race in Florida, giving some Democrats a glimmer of hope that they might begin to have a way back into the race in what was once the most competitive state.
That movement in public opinion, along with the announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on the ballot in Florida this fall, has injected a sense of freshness and unpredictability into the rough world of state politics.
Although some Democrats are engaging in a kind of magical political thinking, flirting with the idea that those small signs of improvement mean the state could swing toward their party once again.
The reality is much more sober: The fight to remove Florida from Republican dominance in key races will be difficult.
Some Democrats see opportunity in measures on the state ballot that could include abortion rights and the legalization of recreational marijuana and believe those two issues could boost liberal turnout at the polls in November.
Others point to President Biden’s growing lead among seniors, a key demographic in the state, and to polls showing Republican Sen. Rick Scott facing an increasingly difficult race for re-election.
“Florida is a state where it is very difficult for Democrats to win. We know that very well, but this time there are some factors in particular that make Florida much more interesting,” commented Dan Kanninen, director of crucial states for the Biden campaign.
Being politically interesting is far from being politically competitive. Even if Kennedy is on the ballot, Republicans and Democrats say his presence is unlikely to be decisive.
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