Florida Extends Voting Hours

As you know, early voting is under way in Florida and the turnout has been impressive. Today Governor Charlie Crist ordered poll hours extended from eight hours a day to twelve. Great, right? More democracy at hand for the good people of the Sunshine State! But because nothing is not politicized these days, as Ben Smith points out, the move has angered some in the GOP, who see Democrats benefiting from early voting. From Smith's blog:

Crist, to the shock and dismay of Florida Republicans, just moved to extend early voting hours, a move likely to widen the Democrats' lead under a program on which the Obama campaign has intensely focused.

"He just blew Florida for John McCain," one plugged in Florida Republican just told me.

Some on the left suggest this is Crist's payback to McCain for picking Sarah Palin instead of him. I'd prefer to give Crist the benefit of the doubt and think that as the state's leader it's in his interest to make sure that everybody who wants to vote gets the chance. After all, the last thing Florida wants is any negative attention on Election Day.

And speaking of Florida, here's the state of the polls: