Key to Florida victory might be Jacksonville area

Associated Press

BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press

Updated: Oct 6, 2012 3:27 AM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) —

Jobless and 22, Eric Allen is just the kind of voter Mitt Romney's campaign needs to win — and win big — in northeast Florida. Allen voted for Barack Obama four years ago but doesn't see the change Obama had promised.

On the other hand, Jacksonville bank employee Lashawn Williams is willing and eager to give President Obama another four years. Voters like Williams are central to Obama's effort to repeat his strong showing in northeast Florida.

In GOP regions of swing states, Republicans must turn out in huge numbers to overcome Democratic advantages elsewhere.

For both campaigns, Florida is one of the keys to winning the White House. It's even more important for Romney, whose paths to Electoral College victory are few without the state's 29 votes.

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