Florida is basically a state on the fence. It's literally as far south as you can go (Key West is the southernmost point of the country), but it's also got a huge liberal population. Orlando was even once voted 2nd gayest city by a gay publication after San Francisco. That and our relatively large population (both caused by a big immigration influx over the 20th century that also led to our entertainment industry) is why we're viewed with such importance as a swing state in the presidential election. There's just enough liberals to keep us in the pink on that chart.