As long as the race is close come Election Day, Barack Obama should win Florida thanks to soaring supporter enthusiasm and a vast get-out-the-vote operation. So says Steve Schale, Florida director for the Obama campaign, who appears on Political Connections on Bay News 9 today at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

And what area of Florida will he be watching closest as the returns come in? "Places like Pasco and Pinellas — this bay area. So goes the bay area, so goes Florida," said Schale, who was also asked about Sarah Palin's effect on swing voters in places like the Tampa Bay area.

"The McCain campaign threw a Hail Mary, and in the short term it was a completed pass. The question is whether or not she can run with the ball. We'll have to see. She's got some tough questions she'll have to answer, she has to go through the debate, she's got to come on Political Connections and answer the tough questions," said Schale, sucking up to his interviewers.

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