In the battle for the state's 27 electoral votes, Senator Barack Obama has a 3-point advantage over Mr McCain, going by the RCP poll of polls while a Reuters/Zogby poll shows them in a tie.

Until late last month, Mr McCain had a distinct edge, which was as wide as 10 points in April. But the gap has narrowed and the Republicans have grown increasingly nervous over Mr Obama's shrewd and aggressive campaign that is taking on what is regarded as the most effective GOP organisation in the US.

In Orlando, home to Disneyland, there is a glimpse of the simmering internecine nastiness.

Ms Sharie Chapin, selling Mickey Mouse trinkets at a shop, was explaining why a registered Republican like her would vote for Mr Obama this year.

'I have trouble making the mortgage. Obama will bring back sanity to the economy,' said the soft-spoken woman in her 30s who voted for President George W. Bush the last two times.

'They say this is a Republican state, but this year I'm not so sure.'

But a customer at the payment counter butted in.

'You should know Bush Senior got us the balanced budget that Clinton took credit for. Obama will hit you with taxes.

'You are not a true Republican, are you?'

And with that, he stomped off.

The slumping economy is giving Mr Obama the leg-up in Florida, which has seen the highest jobless figures and second-highest rate of foreclosures in the country.

The Democrat showed up late here. But he has more than made up since, opening grassroots offices in towns which have never seen one before, amassing an army of volunteers and buying up the airwaves. He is running more spots here than in any other state, and in the past few weeks has aired more than three times as many as ads as Mr McCain who has also shored up his TV presence.

The voters seem pretty pliant, despite favouring Republicans on all but three occasions in the last four decades.

Florida's winterless climate attracts the elderly, who form a significant and faithful Republican bloc. But they are dismayed over their Dow-wrecked nest eggs and have begun eyeing the Democrat with a new friendliness.

Del Ray Beach features a community of resort-style housing for retirees. Mr Abe Milstein, enjoying lunch in a cheerful restaurant owned by a Korean-American family, was thoughtful when asked about his choice.

His wife Michelle, who recently surrendered her French citizenship, declared herself an Obama supporter without hesitation.

But Mr Milstein was undecided. 'I have no doubt that Mr Obama will win. And it's not that I don't trust him,' said the World War II veteran. 'On the other hand, Mr McCain will guarantee our security better.'

The Jewish Democrats, another chunky voting group, had appeared to be swinging towards Mr McCain. But pollsters report this demographic is marching home. In Fort Lauderale, a tourist city with a high percentage of foreign-born population, taxi driver Charlie Peres said he has always voted for Democrats.

'Obama wasn't my first choice, frankly. But look at the old man who's running, will he have the energy to heal the economy?' said Mr Peres, 65, who immigrated from Israel in the 1950s.

Ms Jillian Faiers, 21, a psychology major at the University of Florida, is firmly for Mr Obama, citing his pro-choice stance.

Her mother is a McCain supporter and often tries to sway her daughter. 'I tell her it's a trend to be liberal at my age,' said Ms Faiers. 'I might grow up to be a Republican with conservative social values.'

Mr Obama has invested heavily in the youth vote but it is a risky bet because this group's turnout is notoriously low.

Mr Janeison Garcia, 22, doing a late-night shift in an Orlando restaurant, wore a 'Change 08' button on his apron and a non-committal outlook.

'I may vote if I have the time. I work until late at night, you know, and I don't know if I'll wake up in time,' said Mr Garcia, whose Hispanic family was divided between the two candidates.

The closeness of the race is resurrecting the memories of the 2000 election won by President Bush by a 537 vote margin.

Palm Beach county has since brought in electronic machines in place of the 'butterfly' ballots' whose design led some Al Gore voters to mistakenly vote for Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan eight years ago.

But some early voters this year have already reported problems with the new machines.

However, ex-armyman Joe Hudson was sure there would be no trouble. The state would go to the 'smarter guy' who had collected more money. 'McCain is on a losing end,' he said, pointing towards a polling station flocked by early voters.

The unabated enthusiasm for early voting is indeed serving the Democrats well. But the Republicans still have their longstanding advantage with absentee ballots.

Florida remains in play and both campaigns are circling the state in ever tighter circles. Mr Bill Clinton, who won the state both times, was due to make his first joint rally appearance with Mr Obama yesterday.

Not to be outdone, the Republicans are casting for religious-minded voters. They have deployed Jewish Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator Sam Brownback, an evangelical Protestant turned Catholic.

Noted Mr Ron Brownstein, a political analyst: 'Obama can win without Florida; McCain can't.'

bhagya@sph.com.sg