Possibly the two biggest draws in the hard-hitting, hectic final days of the race for president will be in Jacksonville at almost the same time Thursday afternoon - reinforcing the importance in the election of Florida and one of its most populous regions.

President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will present vastly different views of the last eight years and opposing visions for the next four during speeches just a couple of hours apart.

Obama will campaign for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of state, who he hopes will build on his legacy and initiatives. He speaks at a rally that begins at 1:30 p.m. at the University of North Florida Arena.

But before Obama takes the stage at UNF, Trump will likely assail Obama and Clinton policies of the last eight years. Trump will speak at about noon at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

Thousands are expected at both events with likely capacity crowds at each rally. The capacity at the UNF Arena is about 6,500 to 7,000 people while the equestrian center has 3,700 permanent seats and can accommodate about 2,800 people on the floor.

The two men are expected in Jacksonville five days before the election as polls show a tight race for Florida's 29 electoral votes. Many political observers consider Florida, the largest of the swing states, a must-win for Trump.

Trump will be in Northeast Florida for the fourth time this election. He made a primary stop at the Jacksonville Landing, an August rally speech at Veterans Memorial Arena, and an October visit to the St. Augustine Amphitheater. Thousands of people attended each event.

Clinton, other than an early private fundraiser, has not campaigned in Jacksonville. Neither has running mate Tim Kaine, although both have stopped in smaller Florida cities and the large metro areas. Kaine was scheduled to attend a roundtable in Jacksonville two months ago, but that was canceled due to Tropical Storm Hermine. Clinton stopped in Daytona Beach on Saturday, possibly her jaunt closest to Jacksonville.

However, two of Clinton's most prominent surrogates, including Obama and former president Bill Clinton, were dispatched to Jacksonville.

Thousands attended Jacksonville rallies for Obama when he was running for the nation's highest office.

Trump has made repealing Obama's signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act, a key component of his platform. Trump and other Republicans have criticized the law as rates have gone up and some insurers have withdrawn from its public exchanges.

Clinton is running on repairing - not repealing - the act, which has provided millions more with insurance coverage.

Obama, a popular two-term president who won Florida in his 2008 and 2012 runs, is in the midst of multiple Florida stops for Clinton, including Miami and Orlando. He has questioned Trump's fitness for office.