FLORIDA, FLORIDA, FLORIDA

It’s debate eve, as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepare for what will surely be a defining moment of the campaign when the two square off Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N. Y. More news from the world of politics:

Candidates come and go, but one constant in recent presidential races has been the importance of Florida, and that will almost certainly be true again in 2016.

A Suffolk University Poll out Thursday showed Donald Trump making gains in the Sunshine State as the final stretch of the race nears. The poll found Trump with 45% support among likely voters in the state, while Hillary Clinton was backed by 44%. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson was well back at 3%, and Green Party hopeful Jill Stein was at 1%.

Florida is the biggest prize among the states that are closely contested, with 29 electoral votes going to the winner. Barack Obama carried the state in 2012 and 2008, while George W. Bush was the victor in 2004 and 2000, a contest you may remember.

EVAN VUCCI, AP