Primary Forces Candidates to Confront Florida's Housing Crisis

President Obama has acknowledged that his housing policies have been ineffective, so the candidates for the Republican Party nomination have a wide opening in which to address the state's most pressing economic and employment issue, while taking on the President at the same time.

According to Fletcher, "That might sound like a political opportunity for the GOP candidates, particularly in Florida, which is seen as pivotal to their party's chances to capture the White House. But so far, the candidates have not been specific on how they would address the housing problem."

"This is truly a no-win situation if you are a Republican candidate," said Jaret Seiberg, a senior policy analyst with Guggenheim Partners' Washington Research Group. "Every answer requires more government help. There is no cheap or easy way to fix housing. So from their perspective, you are better off ignoring the problem than trying to put a plan forward."