             sharpness = getStyle("fontSharpness");
             thickness = getStyle("fontThickness");
             
-            // ignore padding in the text...most components deal with it themselves
-            //textFormat.leftMargin = getStyle("paddingLeft");
-            //textFormat.rightMargin = getStyle("paddingRight");
+            // most components ignore margin and just set x and y, but some (like TextInput)
+            // set the margin increase their hitArea
+            textFormat.leftMargin = leftMargin;
+            textFormat.rightMargin = rightMargin;
             
             // Check for embedded fonts
             embedFonts = isFontEmbedded(textFormat);

        var originalText:String = super.text;
        var oldIsTruncated:Boolean = _isTruncated;
        var w:Number = width;
        
        _isTruncated = false;
        

    // method is delegated to this function.
    mx_internal var scrollToRangeDelegate:Function;
    
    // the left and right margin for this StyleableTextField.  By default
    // it is null, which corresponds to 0.
    mx_internal var leftMargin:Object;
    mx_internal var rightMargin:Object;
    
    private static var supportedStyles:String = "textAlign fontFamily fontWeight fontStyle color fontSize textDecoration textIndent leading letterSpacing"
    
    private var invalidateStyleFlag:Boolean = true;
