on my way into the state, i actually paid attention to who had the most signs or bumper stickers.  interestingly, george bush won that race.  while i saw a handful of obama bumper stickers -- and none of mccain's -- i saw more "w," "w in '04" and george bush bumper stickers than obama stickers.  granted, these were in alabama and georgia, but still.  i don't see any w stickers where i live!

in florida, the obama campaign opened up the state headquarters, and participated in the opening weekend of the canvass for change in a number of areas -- and not a moment too soon.  it's clear that many florida voters still have no impression of barack and our movement for change.  but it's also clear that people are very interested in learning about barack.  my suzuki has two bumper stickers on the back window (a blue one and a white one) and in every florida parking lot i've stopped in, i've been asked about where they could get obama stickers!  one kind lady even left me the nicest note asking if i could get her one under my windshield wiper.

this really reinforces the conclusions from the zogby poll:

In a sign that Democrat Barack Obama will be competitive in the nation's largest swing state, he is beating Republican John McCain comfortably in South Florida and has a slight edge among Hispanics, according to a new Miami Herald poll.

Obama is ahead 46-30 percent over McCain in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in the survey of 807 people conducted by Zogby International. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

''Obama's 16-point lead in South Florida could springboard him to make it a competitive race statewide,'' said pollster John Zogby. ``I really think Florida is in play.''

About 24 percent of South Floridians favors another candidate or haven't made up their minds -- a large group that could tip the race in the coming months.

Obama was perceived as being behind in Florida because he did not campaign in the state for nine months and lost the Democratic primary to Hillary Clinton. But two statewide polls released last week showed him with a narrow edge over McCain. The Zogby poll was conducted June 18-20, just as Obama's first television ads in South Florida went on the air.

South Florida traditionally votes Democratic, but Obama's lead in Miami-Dade is wider than the narrow margin of victory posted by 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry.

Among Hispanics in the three counties, Obama leads McCain 40 to 35 percent. Until the tide started to turn against the Republican Party in 2006, Hispanics in Florida have long favored the GOP.

like the campaign efforts in other states, the florida effort is driven by the grassroots.  steve schale, who's been brought on board to run the florida effort, has been making the rounds and making this point.  there is a lot of excitement in the state, as evidenced by my simple bumper sticker inquiries, but it has to be mobilized, both now and through election day.  our job is to keep it going -- even in the heat of the summer.