Trump and Clinton campaigns hit Florida Florida once again is a crucial battleground in the presidential campaign.  Donald Trump has been there for several days, telling voters, "I'm back in my second home, Florida. I love my second home. I love Florida." Hillary Clinton will be there today and her running mate, Tim Kaine, has reminded voters just how important a role they're going to play. "You're a checkmate state, if Hillary wins Florida, she's going to be president." Professor Susan MacManus, who teaches political science at the University of South Florida, joins us from Tampa with an update.

How Close Was Another Meltdown at the Florida Polls? Yesterday's presidential election was decided early this morning, but Florida came close to another debacle. Although this time, it just didn't matter, it was another brush with electoral trouble. Susan MacManus, Professor of Political Science at the University of South Florida, is co-author of Florida Politics : Ten Media Markets, One Powerful State. University of California-Irvine Law Professor Rick Hasen , who writes Election Law Blog , and is author of The Voting Wars : From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown.

Mitt vs. Newt: Establishment vs. Grass Roots Insurgency South Carolina demonstrated there's no real front-runner in the GOP race for the Republican nomination. Maybe there never was. Newt Gingrich now leads Mitt Romney in Florida polls with nine days left until the next primary and with candidates raising the rhetorical volume before tonight's 18th debate in Tampa. Gingrich is still calling Romney a "Massachusetts liberal" and, in a message to voters old enough to remember Gingrich as House Speaker, Romney says Gingrich "had to resign in disgrace." Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are still nipping away, but how much longer can this go on, as establishment Republicans try to cope with right-wing populism?

Governors Make a Difference Governorships are on the ballot in 37 states next month — including Ohio , California , Texas , Florida and New York — states that could be crucial in the 2012 presidential election and could have an impact on national politics for years to come. Governors can shape debate on public policy; they could resist implementing healthcare reform. And, after this year's census, they'll participate in redrawing congressional district boundaries, which could matter a lot in 2012. We hear about unemployment and the economy, a party called "The Rent is 2 Damn High," an incumbent who can shoot coyotes and the most expensive campaign of its kind in American history.

Giuliani Slips in Latest Florida Polls After ducking out of the early contests, Rudi Giuliani has spent big time and big money in Florida, where Republicans will be voting next Tuesday. But the latest polls show a 20- to 30-point lead has vanished, and he's now in third or fourth place behind McCain , Romney , and perhaps tied with Huckabee. On Saturday the Democrats will face off in South Carolina , where Barack Obama has a big lead. It's dropped a bit, but the big story could be John Edwards . We get a campaign update from Susan MacManus, who teaches political science at the University of South Florida, and David Corn, political editor for Mother Jones magazine.