Gporter, I'll explain to you why this works: Bush carried California narrowly on the coattails of Reagan's popularity. Progressive Democrats in California are turned off by Bentsen's southern roots and conservatism and feel that he is a watered-down version of Bush. There is the exact opposite effect in Florida, however, where Southern independents and Southern Democrats are drawn to the Democratic ticket because of Bentsen's more conservative record and southern background.
If everyone really has their panties in a knot over it, i'll add California to the Dems.
In 1976 Florida went D with CA going GOP as well, with a Southern moderate as a Democratic nominee. Beside, CA was really a stronghold for the GOP in the presidential elections between 1968 to 1988.
