President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
On Monday, Jim Messina, Obama’s campaign manager, released a video in which he offered an update on where the race currently stands. Messina said that, if the election were held now, Obama would lead in enough states to pull 243 electoral votes, while Romney was up in enough states to reel in 191 electoral votes. With 270 votes needed to win the election, 104 come from eight tossup states that Obama carried in 2008: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. With 29 Electoral College votes, Florida ranks as the biggest prize of the states that Messina believes are up for grabs.
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In the meantime, the Republican National Committee (RNC) opened 23 offices across the Sunshine State to help Romney take back Florida from Obama.
"President Obama failed to deliver hope and change to Florida," insisted Reince Priebus, the chairman of the RNC, in a statement on Monday. "Today, voters are ready for new direction, and Republicans and Governor Romney are offering exactly that. While President Obama runs from his record and attempts to divide the electorate, Republicans are running on the issues that matter: jobs and the economy. Our Victory Offices will allow us to take that message to voters all across the state."
The RNC will be working with the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) in the newly launched offices.
"Florida Republicans are ready for the historic election ahead of us," said Lenny Curry, the chairman of the RPOF. "The stakes are high, and there is plenty of work to be done, but with the RNC, RPOF and the Romney campaign partnering together, we will be victorious in November.”
The Republicans are opening offices in Bradenton, Brandon, Casselberry, Clearwater, Fort Myers, Holly Hill, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Melbourne, Miami, Naples, New Port Richey, Ocala, Orlando, Osprey, Palm Beach, Panama City, Pensacola, Pompano Beach, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Stuart and Tallahassee.
The candidates’ surrogates are starting to increasingly focus on the Sunshine State as well. Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a high school graduation event in Marlins Park on Monday and Ann Romney will be campaigning in Miami on Tuesday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.