Orlando Real Estate

Here in Florida, we take voting very seriously. Let's face it, we have some recent history when it comes to choosing our President. I believe the 2000 election was decided by about 500 votes in Florida. We have heard all the jokes about pregnant chads, dangling chads and all the rest of chads friends. Our state can even be boiled down to the I-4 corridor. The southern part of the state tends to be more in favor of the Democratic party, and the northern part leans toward the Republican party. I-4 divides the state from Daytona to Tampa running right through my home town Orlando. To punctuate this point, my neighborhood Baldwin Park is home to both of Florida's US Senators. Mel Martinez (R) and Bill Nelson (D) live in Baldwin Park, Orlando.

I have looked at the voter registration numbers for Orange county, and they are almost perfectly split 48.8% Democrats and 48.6% Republicans. I believe the two candidates could have saved themselves a lot of traveling and advertising by focusing on Orlando. I have heard one statistic that states that 95% of Americans will visit Orlando in their lifetime. We have about one million visitors here every week. They probably could have spoken to more potential voters by staying here and speaking at the Citrus Bowl or Amway Arena or the Orlando Convention Center every week for the last 18 months. Well, maybe next time. Today is Election Day '08, and you need to get out and vote if you have not already voted early or by absentee ballot. If you don't vote today, you cannot complain about the results tomorrow.

David Welch, Orlando Real Estate Blog