Foreign Correspondent

Goin' Up Around the Bend - Truth, Votes and the American Way

The young Tallahassee tailgaters party in the football arena carpark, slugging rocket fuel from jars and chanting in unison: 'No Obama! No Obama!' Across town, the party faithful watching the Democrat National Convention are just as exuberant and emphatic. 'What's the biggest misconception about Barack Obama?' one is asked. 'Misconception? I can’t think of a single negative thing about him!' One patch of Florida; two polarised views. Welcome to the swingingest election hotspot in America with the biggest bounty of all-important electoral votes among the swing states. If you want the White House you really should be trying to get Florida in the bag.