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Obama's Message Of Hope Needs Elaboration In Florida

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Now that Sen. Barack Obama finally found a little time to campaign in Florida, there's much he needs to say that Florida hasn't heard.

It will be hard for anyone to become president without carrying this diverse state. In January, without campaigning here, he lost Florida by a big margin, and rumors are that the Obama campaign won't aggressively compete here this summer and fall. That would be a mistake for him.

He's drawing huge, young crowds but still not connecting to the middle-American workers and retirees who will decide the election. By campaigning in Florida, he can learn from them.

At today's rally in Tampa, Obama could do more than energize the faithful. He could launch a serious effort to win Florida's many moderate and independent voters.

Everyone agrees that Obama's message is inspirational, but it's less clear exactly where he aspires to take us.

Let's get specific.

Florida's businesses and ports depend on robust trade. Obama touts a stronger economy, yet he has been highly critical of trade agreements that have helped Florida's many exporters. Voters need to hear how Obama would improve trade.

On Cuba, Obama is refreshingly unafraid to question the effectiveness of the long embargo. He would talk with Cuba's leaders about a better future. That stance won't play well with the most vocal of Florida's older Cuban-American community, but the younger generation and mainstream Florida are eager to hear what Obama wants to see happen in Cuba.

On immigration, Obama should know that Florida's farm harvests depend on immigrant labor, yet Florida is just as divided as the rest of the country in how to craft smart immigration policy. Winning here requires finding the right balance between competing interests.

Obama frequently says, "We're all in this together."

Yet on insurance, it's every state for itself. Florida homeowners have seen insurance rates soar. Obama could help by leading an effort to create a national catastrophe fund for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes.

Transportation is another national challenge with a Florida twist. If we're all in this together, Florida would get a fair share of federal transportation money. This urbanizing state has big-city traffic problems. Obama needs to describe his plan for helping Florida's cities become less reliant on the automobile.

Obama's optimism has resonated best with younger voters. He needs to find a way to connect with older voters, and Florida is the perfect place to begin. It has the nation's highest percentage of people of retirement age.

On Social Security and Medicare, Obama must reassure middle-aged workers that the essential programs will be around for them.

Obama has given the nation an exciting new style of politics light on mud-slinging and heavy on wishful thinking.

"Yes, we can!" Obama likes to say.

He has our attention. Whether he gets a majority of our votes depends on what it is he would have us do.

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