By Derek Willis
Congressional Quarterly

Electoral votes: 25

Delegates: 186

Chairman: Bob Poe

Hotel: Hilton Los Angeles Airport (310) 410-4000

1996 Election:
Clinton – 48%
Dole – 42%
Perot – 9%

Florida's Democrats acknowledge the advantage that the Republican presidential nominee, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, has in their state: His brother, Jeb Bush, is in his first term as governor of Florida.

But that doesn't mean that Vice President Al Gore, the Democrats' standard-bearer, will give up on a state that went for President Clinton over Republican Bob Dole by 48 percent to 42 percent in 1996.

Gore has traveled to Florida more than a dozen times in the past two years to signal its importance and even held a victory rally in Florida on March 14, when several Southern states held their presidential primaries. Many delegates say that, while Florida won't be an easy state for Gore to carry in November, it is still in play.

Popular three-term centrist Sen. Bob Graham, who previously served two terms as governor, even received frequent mention as one of the prospects to be Gore's vice presidential running mate.

"I think that would be terrific," said state Rep. Annie Betancourt, a Cuban-American delegate from Miami, who has been critical of the Clinton administration's dealings with Cuba. "At least [Graham] has our ear."

Graham is the highest-ranking official in the Florida delegation. He has ties to conservative Democrats in the state and has a moderate record on social issues.

The state delegation will seek to create common cause between conservative Democrats from Florida's Panhandle and more-liberal South Florida retirees who moved from New York and other Northeastern states.

African-Americans, who constitute about 15 percent of Florida's population, make up more than a quarter of the Democratic delegates. This key Democratic constituency has been at odds with the state party organization at times during the past two years, but those tensions should not affect the presidential race.

The state party's woes - current party Chairman Bob Poe is the fourth in two years - will be played down as Democrats try to present a united front against the Bush brothers.

Poe, who ran unopposed for his chairman post in March and is chairman of Florida's convention delegation, is typical of the moderate Democrat image Gore has been trying to cultivate.

"I do think the party is more moderate and more reflective of the country," said delegate Mitchell Ceaser, a Broward County lawyer and former state party chairman who is vice chairman of this year's Democratic National Convention.

Gore has the support of all but 17 of the state's 186 delegates. The others were awarded to Bill Bradley based on his showing in the state's presidential primary on March 14, even though he had quit the race several days before.

The mixture of issues important to Florida Democrats - ranging from the environmental health of the Everglades to affirmative action and education - are reflected in the delegation. The state delegation's six-member platform committee is equally divided among whites, blacks and Hispanics.

In addition, at least twice as many Florida gay and lesbian delegates are going to Los Angeles than attended the 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago, according to Jim Merritt, a delegate who is chairman of the Triangle Caucus, a state Democratic Party group that promotes issues important to gays.

Gore enjoys mostly good relations with the state's congressional Democrats, all nine of whom will be delegates.

FLORIDA NOTABLES: U.S. Sen. Bob Graham; former Gov. Kenneth "Buddy" MacKay; attorney Mitchell Ceaser, vice chairman of this year's Democratic National Convention; state Attorney General Bob Butterworth; Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas; state teachers' union president Terrie Brady, a former state Democratic Party chairman.