Republicans, Democrats turn attention to Florida

Trump in St. Augustine Monday, Clinton in south Florida Monday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the general election just over two weeks away and early voting set to begin Monday in Flordia, candidates from both parties will make campaign stops in northeast Florida over the next couple of days trying to sway undecided voters and make sure their supporters get out and vote.

Knowing that Florida could be key to winning, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine made an appearance Sunday in Gainesville, then head to an appearance in Orlando. Presidential candidate Donald Trump will appear at a rally Monday afternoon at St. Augustine Amphitheater.

Hillary Clinton will appear at a Tuesday afternoon rally at Broward College in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Former President Bill Clinton held a get-out-the-vote event Friday at Jacksonville's downtown library and crossed north Florida by bus over the weekend in support of his wife's campaign.

“The important thing for them is to energize voters and get out the vote,” director of Jacksonville University's Public Policy Institute Rick Mullaney said. “You are in the phase now of get the vote out.”

Both events are a sign that the candidates know how important Northeast Florida is to winning the state. Mullaney said this may not be the last time the campaigns stops in the area.

“I suspect they will both be back,” Mullaney said. “Particularly Donald Trump. He knows that without Florida, there is no possibility of winning. Hillary Clinton can win in other ways. But (on) the Republican side, they have to win Florida, so I would suspect that he or his surrogates will be back here.”

At former President Clinton's rally, there was talk about more than just the race for president. He spoke about the Senate race here in Florida as well. Mullaney said that is a major race because of the senate majority and the impact on the Supreme Court.

“Keep your eye on the U.S. Senate,” Mullaney said. “Right now, it is a 54 to 46 majority for the Republicans. If it becomes 50-50, whoever wins the presidency, the vice president becomes the tiebreaker. You very well could see a Democratic majority in the Senate. Why is that so important? Because they confirmed the Supreme Court justices."

News4Jax and JU's Public Policy institute have extended an invitation to both Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy to hold a debate in their senate race. Rubio has accepted the invitation, but Murphy has not responded.