CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 61% 38% 68% 31% 1997 61 39 68 32 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 99 1997 99	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 65% n/a 65% 32 % 1997 55 75 80 44
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

FLORIDA 2 : Panhandle - Tallahassee; part of Panama City

The 2nd stretches around Florida's Big Bend, joining the Panhandle with state capital Tallahassee and the north central part of the state. Taking in all or part of 19 counties, the district features tobacco and peanut farms, forests and uncongested towns. While safely Democratic, the 2nd isn't as liberal as districts in southeast Florida.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district nearly 3-to-1, but many have conservative views on fiscal and social issues. The exception is the Tallahassee area, home to Florida State U. and Florida A&M U., where a more liberal sentiment exists. Panama City has a stronger conservative element, as do the smaller communities that ring the Gulf Coast. One-fourth of the district's population is black, most near Tallahassee and Gadsden County.

The 2nd's economy is driven by its land - from the Gulf Coast beaches where oysters are harvested to farms stocked with soybeans and peanuts. Agriculture has struggled occasionally due to weather and low prices, but a steady base of government employees buffers any long-term economic effects. Florida's forestry industry has suffered some setbacks but maintains a strong presence. Panama City relies on tourism and the military community around Tyndall Air Force Base.

Major Industry
Agriculture, government, manufacturing

Military Bases
Tyndall Air Force Base, 4,710 military, 1,990 civilian (1997)

Population
562,359 (1990)

Cities
Tallahassee, 136,812 (1997); Panama City (pt.), 29,250 (1990); Callaway, 13,060 (1997)

People
47% rural; 12% age 65+ (ranks 19 of 23 in state; middle third nationally); 54% married couples, 25% married couples with children; 19% college educated (ranks ninth of 23 in state; middle third nationally); 59% white collar (ranks 13 of 23 in state; middle third nationally), 22% blue collar (ranks 15 of 23 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
74% white, 24% black, 1% Asian; 2% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$22,839 (ranks 20 of 23 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
The Suwanee River, made famous by Stephen Foster's song "Old Folks at Home"; Liberty County has the fewest registered Republicans of any county in the state - 143 in 1998.

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