We find out what matters to voters in Florida, a state that's still considered a toss-up in the presidential race. Although Democrats have more registered voters, the Republican Party has succeeded on the state level. We look into how Democrats are making the Sunshine State competitive this year. Also: the impact of the financial downturn on some of the state’s Congressional races.

Adam Smith is political editor for the St. Petersburg Times, and writes for that paper's political blog.

States of the Union fact of the week: Perhaps fittingly, the first suntan cream was invented in Florida in 1944.