Six months before the US election, the battle for Florida has begun, with all three White House hopefuls heading south to woo Cuban-Americans and Jews in a state still haunted by 2000's disputed vote.
"Florida would be essential to helping assure winning 270 electoral votes," the number needed to secure the presidency in November, said Harold Ickes, one of Democrat Hillary Clinton's strategists.
In a reflection of the importance of the US's most southern state, Clinton, her rival for the Democratic nomination Barack Obama, and Republican presumptive nominee John McCain have all made trips here in the past week.
McCain visited the cafes of "Little Havana" in Miami Tuesday where, targeting elderly voters and those opposed to the Castro regime in Cuba, he attacked Obama for offering to hold talks with the communist island's leaders.
"I believe we should give hope to the Cuban people, not to the Castro regime," said the 71-year-old, who is backed by Florida governor Charlie Crist. He said the offer "would send the worst possible signal to Cuba's dictators."
Obama hit back at a meeting of 15,000 supporters in Tampa the same day, saying: "When it comes to Cuba, what (McCain) is now saying is essentially the policy we've pursued for 50 years -- and the Cuban people are not more free."
Florida is the fourth most populous US state but has symbolism beyond its electoral clout as the site of a disputed presidential vote in 2000 which led to Republican George W. Bush's victory over his Democratic rival Al Gore.
Along with Michigan, the state is also at the center of an ongoing row within the Democratic party. The states' primaries were voided by the national party after they were held early in defiance of Democratic rules.
Obama's Tampa visit was his first to Florida for months, as he held off campaigning in the state because of the row.
He is hoping to repair relations in particular with Hispanic voters, who in 2006 represented 11 percent of the electorate.
Hispanic voters are no longer as aligned with the Republicans as they used to be, but those who vote Democrat have generally leaned toward Clinton.
After visiting a Puerto-Rican community Wednesday, Obama was invited to lunch Friday with the Cuban-American Foundation, one of the most established anti-Castro groups. He then plans to meet a less radical group.
Florida also has the third highest Jewish population in the United States, and Obama, who is hoping to become the first black president, is struggling to win over Jewish voters amid suggestions he is more pro-Muslim than pro-Israel.
Aside from McCain's attacks on his offer to talk to US enemies such as Iran and Syria, the Republican Jewish Coalition ran ads in three major newspapers in south Florida attacking Obama's "dangerously naive foreign policy thinking."
Obama has stepped up his declarations of support for Israel recently, and spoke Thursday at a synagogue in Boca Raton, just north of Miami.
"Just because I am open to talks with Iran does not mean I am not pro-Israel," he told a meeting at Bnai Torah Synagogue.
"I know how much Israel craves peace and as president I pledge to make every effort to help achieve that peace and support Israel's right to exist and be safe," he said.
A poll published Thursday suggests he is right to be worried about Florida.
According to the Quinnipiac University, McCain is leading Obama 45 to 41 percent in Florida, whereas Clinton is leading McCain 48 to 41 percent.
The former first lady has the benefit of being the only Democratic candidate to call for the results of Florida's primary -- which she won -- to be recognized in the nominating race.
Florida state senator Steve Geller, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the national Democratic Party, demanding that Florida's 185 delegates be able to take part in the party's national convention in August.
Clinton cited Florida's Bush-Gore dispute Wednesday, warning: "The lesson of 2000 here in Florida is crystal-clear: if any votes aren't counted, the will of the people is not realized and our democracy is diminished."
Obama holds what seems to be an insurmountable lead over Clinton heading into the final three primaries, ending on June 3. Not counting Florida and Michigan, he is 65 delegates short of the winning line of 2,026.
