What voters are saying in this Florida city crushed by foreclosures
“The Clintons seem to be interested in their own financial future, and Mr. Trump seems to be interested in the country’s financial future,” said a middle-aged woman named M.J., who was sitting on a bench by the water preparing for a job interview. She is currently unemployed.
By Monday, when early voting in Florida was over, about half the state’s registered voters had already cast their ballots. Democrats turned out in larger numbers than Republicans, but not by very much. Most analysts agree that Donald Trump cannot win the nation without Florida, but the latest polls show the state is in a virtual dead heat.
One dynamic that may favor Hillary Clinton is the Hispanic vote. Florida’s electorate is 17 percent Hispanic, a higher share than the rest of the nation, which stands at 12 percent, according to Pew Research. Early readings show Hispanic voters turned out in larger numbers than past elections. One million of the 6.4 million votes cast so far in Florida were by Hispanics, as counted by University of Florida professor Daniel Smith, who tracks voter turnout.
Juan Dyer voted early, and by Monday was helping his young son learn to walk on the grassy town square at Tradition.
“I just wanted to be done with it. There is a lot going on on both sides, and the country is divided. I wanted to be done,” Dyer said.