As the polls close at 7 p.m. (EST time 8 p.m. because Florida has two time zones) Floridians are sending a message to pols.
It's the economy, stupid.
As a key swing state in the 2012 presidential election, political experts say senior Florida citizens will swing the vote in the Sunshine State. A new study identified economic anxieties are the No. 1 issue for non-retired baby boomers with 75 percent saying it's a top concern.
Political expert Bob Hall said seniors are looking for candidates to handle issues important to them.
"Seniors are the most active voters," said Hall. "Seniors are up for grabs, really. So, how they're going to behave in this election will be crucial."
The survey conducted by AARP found concerns for seniors go beyond job creation to general financial security. Cutting across party lines, 91 percent of respondents said the next president and Congress need to strengthen Social Security.
Nancy LeaMond of AARP said research indicates seniors are paying close attention to candidate messages, and will change their votes based on the issues.
"They show up on Election Day, and they also care a lot about being well-educated on where candidates stand," she said. "We think that candidates ignore the 50-plus vote to their peril."
President Barack Obama and and Republican candidate Mitt Romney have spent $350 million in nine swing states, including Florida, so far.
LeaMond says their research shows ads focusing on issues facing seniors will give candidates the most bang for their buck. The AARP study is available at tinyurl.com/9cqdl9n.
