Cubans in Florida pushing for Kerry

[Neo]

Angered by the fact that Bush has placed restrictions on visiting family members in Cuba, Cubans are telling their families in Florida to vote for Kerry.

Bush won 82 percent of the 450,000 Cuban American votes cast when he took Florida in 2000, and thus the presidency, after a bitter fight over ballots.

Bush is expected to again garner a majority of Cuban-American votes on Nov. 2, but Democrats hope to cut into his margin and win the state. They point out that a 10 percent increase in Cuban-American votes would translate into 45,000 for their candidate and 45,000 less for the president.

Retired sugar worker Antonio Perez, 80, says that he cannot wait three years to see family residing in Florida.

"We have talked it over. My family represents five votes and they will all go to Kerry," he said.