Jacksonville, Fla. -- President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Gov. Mitt Romney know how critical Florida and the First Coast is in deciding who goes to the White House.
Up for grabs 29 electoral votes which is the biggest prize of swing states, a half dozen states that likely will decide who is elected.
"It would be more critical for Romney, Obama would sure love it. It would almost guarantee his victory," said Dr. Stephen Baker a professor of political science at Jacksonville University.
Baker says Florida voters over the past five presidential elections have almost evenly split their votes between Republican and Democratic candidates.
Both Obama and Romney plan to be visible on the First Coast either in person and most definitely on the airwaves.
"There are going to be tens of millions of dollars coming to this market. Get ready to hear more politics that you want to hear for the next 60 days," said Jacksonville political and public relations consultant Paul McCormick.
Last weekend following the Republican convention, Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan stumped for votes at the Jacksonville Landing. The President and his wife recently have made separate appearances on the First Coast.
Next week Obama is headed back to Florida following the Democratic Convention that wrapped up on Thursday.
First Coast News