Sign in Subscribe
Political parties

Florida Takes Center Stage in Republican Primary Season

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Sunshine State is poised to play a crucial role in the 2012 Republican primary season, with its Republican Party announcing that it will move its primary date to January 31, 2012. This move has already set off a chain reaction among other early GOP primary and caucusing states, with South Carolina planning to move its primary up even further. Additionally, Florida will host the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay next year, making it a key player in the national stage. Furthermore, the state has already made headlines with its most-watched presidential debate and straw poll, which saw Herman Cain emerge as the winner.

Key Takeaways:

  • Florida's Republican Party moved its primary date to January 31, 2012, in order to "properly reflect the importance Florida will play on the national stage."
  • This move has already sparked a round of jockeying among other early GOP primary and caucusing states, with South Carolina planning to move its primary up even further.
  • Florida will host the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay next year, making it a key player in the national stage.
  • The state's most-watched presidential debate was held in Orlando, Florida, and its straw poll saw Herman Cain as the winner.
  • In the 2008 presidential election, donors across Florida showed a clear preference for either Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) or Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.). Donors made either McCain or Obama the top recipient of campaign cash in every metro region except one.
  • The Florida metro region that favored a different candidate during the 2008 presidential race with its campaign cash is not specified, but the candidate is running for president again in 2012.
  • Barack Obama raised $1.5 million in home-state campaign cash through the second quarter, out-fundraising several of his GOP opponents in their home states, including Mitt Romney, who he out-raised in Massachusetts by approximately $123,000.

Statistics:

  • Florida's primary date will be held on January 31, 2012.
  • 50% of donors in Florida made either Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama the top recipient of campaign cash in every metro region except one during the 2008 presidential election.
  • The exact Florida metro region that favored a different candidate during the 2008 presidential election with its campaign cash is unknown, but the candidate is running for president again in 2012.
  • Barack Obama raised $1.5 million in home-state campaign cash through the second quarter, out-raising several of his GOP opponents in their home states, including Mitt Romney.
  • Obama out-raised Romney in Massachusetts by approximately $123,000.

Sources:

  • Center for Responsive Politics
  • PolitQuizz
  • OpenSecrets.org
  • The Blue Pages: Second Edition

Read more