I am currently in Central Florida along the I-4 corridor door-knocking with Fuerza Hispana, a non-partisan, non-profit, voter engagement organization. Many Latinos live along the I-4 corridor stretching from Orlando to Tampa. In between are farming communities and subdivisions with large numbers of families facing foreclosures due to predatory lending. The economy is top on the list of these families as we survey them to find out what issues are motivating them to get to the polls in November.

It’s twenty-one days, exactly three weeks before the most historic presidential race certainly of my life-time. Since the Democratic National Convention I have been preparing to come down to Central Florida, the notorious I-4 corridor which is crucial in determining the outcome of Florida’s coveted electoral votes. Each day a team of bi-lingual paid canvassers are knocking on doors in key districts in and around Orlando to ensure that Latinos represent at the polls. The canvassers represent the diversity of the Latino community, ranging in ages from 18 – 70, men, women, Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban.

Though we do not ask which candidate people are voting for, some constituents are offering their perspective on the candidates and it appears that Mr. Obama is the favored candidate. And in a state like Florida this is crucial. Each afternoon we are knocking on doors even as clouds move quickly overhead and bring down a light afternoon shower, we continue to make sure that the Latino voice is heard.

As we count down to November 4th I will be reporting from Florida and giving you an inside look at non-partisan politics and the community members that are working to make sure that that we are not-disenfranchised on this important election.

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