How was Florida so close in 2000?

[I Can't Get That Sound You Make, Out Of My Head]

In most recent elections it seemed to be R-leaning. Yet without Nader voters/butterfly ballot/etc. Gore would've won Florida and the election. How? Jewish factor?

[memphis]

Probaby the old Jewish people. Gore had a nice swing going in Broward and Palm Beach. Gore was also the first Dem in forever to win Orange County (Orlando). Even LBJ lost in the 64 landslide. That one is due more to Republicans fleeing to the suburbs though.  Bush, on the other hand, had a very strong swing in Dade. Probably reaction to Elian Gonzales.

[Badger]

Exactly. Remember, clinton won FL in 96 largely in part to inroads among the state's usually stcunchly GOP Cuban population (especially younger voters). The effort was the brain child of hillary's brother who was a (badly) failed Dem nominee for US Senate there.