Real Clear Politics polling average placed Florida in Republican Donald Trump’s column Monday.
Trump’s RCP polling average in the Sunshine State has been behind Democrat Hillary Clinton since August 3 and he only barely bested her for less than a month starting in mid July.
Clinton’s Florida RCP average spiked while Trump’s plunged throughout the month of August, but by September 3, Trump’s polling average rocketed while Clinton’s fell precipitously starting in late August. Trump now edges out Clinton by a tenth of a point in the RCP presidential polling average for Florida.
Considered a key state during presidential elections, Florida has delivered itself to both successful Republicans and Democrats in recent cycles in nail biter finishes.
Barack Obama won the state against Republican Mitt Romney with 50 percent of the vote versus Romney’s 49.1 percent. Obama also won the state against Republican Sen. John McCain in 2008 with 51 percent versus McCain’s 48.2 percent.
George W. Bush, however, beat John Kerry in 2008 50.8 percent to Kerry’s 48.3 percent. The contentious Bush v. Al Gore 2000 Florida recount, which wound up in the Supreme Court, ended with Gore winning the popular vote but Bush winning the Electoral College, the state of Florida and ultimately the election. Bush garnered 48.5 percent of the vote while Gore picked up 48 percent.