“We’ve been using one on one contact over a period of time and trying to convince people with how they need to vote. I think they have been very receptive and we have been able to change a lot of minds. Basically the methods are not working, give Romney a chance. If it doesn’t work then vote him out in four years but I don’t believe that they will need to do that. This is not working,” said before the election Nancy Riley, GOP committee woman.

Strong views in opposition to Obama were represented throughout the county due to various concerns with the state of the economy.

“I voted Romney, the last four years won my vote over. Specifically the economy and the job rates are a reflection on my small business. I’m looking for small business to come back not just big business. For us we have probably seen business drop by 30 to 40 percent, you know there’s just no money out there,” said Elizabeth Lewis, small business owner of Palmer’s Hardware Shop.

Support for President Obama spans from his voters and those that have helped with his first campaign in 2008 and continue to show support in their work with the re-election campaign.

“I voted for Obama. The economy is moving but it is moving slow. He got in and he had a big mess to deal with but I voted for him because there is progress. If you take race out the question or Democratic Party and all of that, I looked at his plan and I looked at Romney’s plan. Romney says he can do it but his plan takes 10 years to really go into effect so we wouldn’t see a big push in jobs until eight years has already passed,” said Shuman Boodram, owner of Northside Bikes.

The lack of economic success and slow progress did not stop early votes from being casted but there were those who ran into issues that may have prevented others from voting.

“It was too crowded at the polls. There was a 40 minute wait. I’ll go to lunch in ten minutes and then go vote. I couldn’t tell the general mood. Normally you could walk right in and that was not the case this morning. That’s unusual. This election has generated significant interest. I thought most people would have voted earlier,” said the general manager of Haslam’s Bookstore in St. Petersburg.

Long lines and unexpected turnouts have not only impacted voter but also those who are responsible for working the polls and officials of the state.

“This past weekend early voting polls were closed early because they said they weren’t prepared for the large numbers. Some people stood in line for three to seven hours. Rick Scott wanted to save face and had the polls opened back up but it was only for a few more hours. They are really trying to suppress votes,” said Boodram. 

In the end, swing voters of the county kept the state from following in historical suit of supporting a Republican.