FLORIDA - They say all politics is local.

But when you pick a side on an issue, you make friends and enemies.

That's the risk for Barack Obama as he tries to win votes in Florida.

John Zarrella heads out on the water to find out what's at stake.

39 degrees at daybreak on the bay. The oystermen are fighting it...The chop, the wind...Just trying to eak out a living.

"It's getting hard to feed your family."

But now presidential politics has stirred up the water like a northwind in this Florida panhandle community.

"If he can get Georgia to give us some water. I'll vote for him."

The "him" is Barack Obama. When he announced that he would work to protect Apalachicola Bay, Obama jumped into a three state water war. The fishermen say the bay is dying because it's not getting enough fresh river water - some of that water is being held back for the big cities to the north.

Obama's stand on such a localized issue shows the importance of every single vote in florida. But, this is conservative, republican country. And, some oysterman question his motives.

"Out of all the other people why all of a sudden taking an interest in us? Is our vote the ones gonna be the ones they're worried about?" "To us they're just politicians and that's basically it."

But Obama siding with the oystermen could help him chop away a few votes from John Mccain who has not publicly taken a position. One of those votes from Dallas Barrack.

"It made my decision more easier but yah, it's one of the reasons. It sure is."

For the oystermen it's a tough decision. All of them say they like what Obama is saying but voting for a Democrat would be a cultural change. Of the past five presidential elections, the only Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

With the battle for Florida simply too close to call, the outcome could be determined by an oyster.

Oyster Politics