Democrats and Republican in South Florida discussed their expectations for Wednesday's first presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

WATCH LIVE: Presidential debate | Special Section: 2012 Elections

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released earlier this week showed President Obama with a 2 percentage point lead.

In Florida, it's even closer. According to a NBC News/WSJ/Marist poll, Obama leads Romney 47 percentage points to 46.

Cutting into Obama's support from Hispanic voters will be critical for Romney, who is favored by older Cuban-Americans but opposed by many Puerto Ricans in Central Florida.

"If you poll Hispanics voters in Florida, it's a very close race. In fact, I think Mitt Romney is going to win that vote here in Florida," said Sen. Marco Rubio.

Seniors living in Florida have been courted by both campaigns. Vice President Joe Biden visited two retirement communities just last week.

"Joe Biden in a speech yesterday said that the middle class has been buried over the last four years. Those are his words, not mine. He's absolutely right -- they have been by polices that have failed because they have failed everyone they have ever been tried," said Rubio. "The big government has never worked well for the middle class. It just doesn't, and, it's not going to work now."

But U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said retirees and middle class voters will support Obama.

"The bottom line is, no matter how you look at the Romney-Ryan budget, they increase taxes on the middle class to pay for budget busting tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires and they end Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher system," said Wasserman Schultz.

Lynn University prepares to host debate

Meantime, Lynn University in Boca Raton is preparing to host the final debate on October 22nd.

The university is the youngest school to host a presidential debate.

"Very exciting time. You can feel it on campus right now," said Lynn University President Kevin Ross. "Students are excited, we're excited. We have so many activities planned, it's kind of hard to know exactly what's happening on which day, but it really all starts today."

A watch party co-hosted by Lynn University and AARP was being held on Wednesday evening.