Today's Situation Room:
Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
Bear-hugging pizza man on meeting Obama
Scott Van Duzer, the owner of a Florida pizza restaurant, talks about scooping up Obama during an election stop.
RELATED STORY: Obama gets a bear hug
Hero lifeguard rejects rehiring offer
John Zarrella reports a lifeguard fired for ignoring protocol to rescue a swimmer says he has been offered his job back.
RELATED STORY: Florida lifeguard says he's been offered his job back
Evacuees return to Debby's devastation
A Florida couple contemplates starting over in wake of Tropical Storm Debby's destruction. CNN's George Howell reports.
RELATED STORY: Thousands still under evacuation in Florida as Debby moves out
BLITZER’S BLOG: “Florida, Florida, Florida” – tonight and in November
By Wolf Blitzer, CNN
(CNN) - Florida is the fourth largest state in the United States. President Obama and the eventual Republican presidential nominee will be spending a great deal of time campaigning in Florida. That’s because this state goes back and forth between Democratic and Republican candidates in presidential elections. Obama carried it four years ago; George W. Bush carried it in 2000 (but just barely, as we all recall) and again in 2004.
That makes Florida very different than the three largest states in the United States: California, New York and Texas. The presidential candidates won’t be spending a lot of time in those states. They will drop by occasionally to raise some money, but they know that New York and California always go Democratic in presidential elections, and Texas always goes Republican.
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Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Florida • Wolf Blitzer |
BLITZER'S BLOG: My thoughts before tonight's debate
By Wolf Blitzer, CNN
Jacksonville, Florida (CNN) – I am blessed with a great team of producers and researchers who have helped me craft a lot of strong questions for tonight’s Republican presidential debate here on the campus of the University of North Florida. First of all, let me thank them. Hopefully, I won’t disappoint our viewers tonight.
This will be my third Republican debate in this presidential cycle. The ones I moderated at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa and at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., I thought, were solid and informative. We focused on some of the most important issues impacting Americans. I will try to do that once again tonight.
The earlier debates had eight candidates on the stage. Four finalists remain tonight. That means each candidate will get some more time. And that is good.
My goal is that the voters in Florida and across the country will have a better appreciation of these candidates following the debate. I want the voters to know where the candidates agree and where they disagree. Undecided Republicans certainly need to know how each candidate would operate as president.
Four years ago, I moderated five presidential debates. Each was important, especially that final debate I moderated at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. At that time, only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were left on the stage. The debate was substantive and important and no doubt shaped Democratic voters.
Having said that, I believe all these Republican debates in this current election cycle may in fact be even more important. Tonight’s debate will be the 19th. Millions of people are watching and learning and making final voting decisions. And that’s the way it should be.
One final personal note: I feel honored that I have this opportunity to moderate the debate. No matter how many times I do it, I feel blessed.
CNN LIVE: Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Republican Party of Florida Debate hosted by Wolf Blitzer and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. For real-time coverage of the Florida primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.
CNN poll: Dead heat in Florida
CNN's Wolf Blitzer, CNN's Gloria Borger and TIME's Michael Crowley break down results of a CNN/Time/ORC International poll showing the race tightening in Florida.
RELATED STORY: CNN/Time Poll: Dead heat in Florida ahead of debate
BLITZER'S BLOG: Florida, Florida, Florida
All of us remember Election 2000 when we heard the mantra “Florida, Florida, Florida.” In the end, it all boiled down to Florida.
George W. Bush won the state by 537 votes. The count was disputed, but the U.S. Supreme Court ratified the election.
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Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Florida • Wolf Blitzer |
About this Show
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is the command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Tune in weeknights from 5-7pm ET on CNN.
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