Florida Democrats Cut Traditional Republican Lead in Mail Votes

Source: Bloomberg

Republicans and Democrats in Florida are casting early mail ballots in similar numbers, wiping away an advantage that Republicans have typically held in the swing state and posing a potential setback for Mitt Romney, the party’s presidential candidate.

Republicans have dominated early absentee voting in recent Florida elections, which Democrats traditionally offset with higher turnout at polling places open prior to Election Day. During the first week of mail voting in advance of the Nov. 6 election, Democrats are slightly behind Republicans.

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Out of about 275,000 absentee ballots returned to election offices through Oct. 13, 44 percent are from registered Republicans while Democrats account for 40 percent, according to numbers provided by Romney’s campaign and the Florida Democratic Party. The data is exempt from state public records law. Political parties and candidates are able to obtain and release the information.

That four-percentage-point edge is down from 17 points that Republicans had at the same point during the 2008 presidential election.

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Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-15/florida-democrats-cut-traditional-republican-lead-in-mail-votes.html