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Incumbent	Sen. Bob Graham(D)
Opponent	Charlie Crist(R)
Race outlook	Strong Democratic

For Republican candidate Charlie Crist, a 'tough-on-crime' record in the state Senate may not be enough to catch the incumbent Democrat, and former Governor, Sen. Bob Graham in the polls.

Crist easily won his party's nomination in the September primary - his opponent, Andy Martin spent the last month of the campaign in jail on a contempt charge. In the victory limelight, media-savvy Crist used the moment to demand Graham call for the Clinton's resignation after the President admitted having an improper relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Later, Crist was the first U.S. Senate candidate to use the Lewinsky issue in a campaign ad - hitting Graham for stopping short of condemning the President's actions and calling the situation, "disappointing."

As a legislator from Jacksonville, Crist earned the nickname "Chain Gang Charlie" for his support of bringing the punishment back to Florida. Crist is making crime a centerpiece of this campaign by reminding voters of the convicts who were released for goo behavior, by then Gov. Graham, and then went on to commit new violent crimes.

Graham has maintained a steady focus during this campaign. With just a few weeks to go, he took time from the stump to complete his 340th "work day" project - spending time at a company producing storage containers that will go aboard the space shuttle mission with Sen. John Glenn.

For reporters covering the Florida Senate race, incumbent Sen. Bob Graham's victory may be a far-gone conclusion. When faced with their frequent questions about his plans for 2000, the man who was on the short list for Clinton running mates in 1992, answers he's focusing on "contract renewal". Without much contract negotiation, Graham will probably walk away from the polls victorious.

Open Seat	Lieutenant Gov. Buddy MacKay(D)
Open Seat	Jeb Bush(R)
Race outlook	Leans Republican

In 1994, Jeb Bush lost the governor's race to Democratic incumbent Lawton Chiles in the closest election in Florida history. This year, Chiles is stepping down due to term limits, and Bush is favored to win over Chiles' designated heir Buddy MacKay. Republicans are counting this race as their best chance for a GOP pick up.

Bush was laying the groundwork or his 1998 campaign almost as soon as the 1994 ballots were counted. He set up a non-profit organization, Foundation for Florida's Future, that mainly served as a campaign vehicle before he officially announced. He has opted not to participate in the state's system of public funding so that he can spend more than the $5.7 million limit. He has raised more than $8 million to date, and the Florida GOP has spent at least $2 million to boost his candidacy.

MacKay avoided a costly primary when he invited State Sen. Rick Dantzler to join his ticket. But he has had to deal with fallout from a split between blacks and whites within the Florida Democratic Party. Meanwhile Bush has been reaching out to all demographic groups and has picked up the endorsement of Willie Logan, the black speaker-elect whose ouster by the white Democratic leadership in the statehouse exacerbated racial tensions among Democrats.

MacKay has run ads stressing his experience, in contrast to Bush, who has never held elected office, and also has questioned Bush's "silver spoon" business practices. Bush has been portraying MacKay as a relentless tax hiker with the tag line "Not my Buddy."

Polls show MacKay has made little or no headway throughout the campaign and consistently give Bush a double-digit lead.

Current Lineup: 23 Districts, 15 Republicans, 8 Democrats
CD1
Incumbent	size=2>JOE SCARBOROUGH (R) -- age 35 Elected in 1994
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	Panhandle - Pensacola; Fort Walton Beach .1996 House: face=Arial size=2>D-27% R-73%

CD2
Incumbent	ALLEN BOYD (D) -- age 53 Elected in 1996
Opponent	No Republican opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Democrat
District Profile;	size=2> Panhandle - Tallahassee; part of Panama City . 1996 House: D-59% R-40%

CD3
Incumbent	size=2>CORRINE BROWN (D) -- age 51 Elected in 1992
Opponent	Bill Randall (R) Fmr Pres of Jacksonville NAACP/Minister
Outlook	Likely Democrat
District Profile;	size=2> North - parts of Jacksonville and Orlando . 1996 House: D-61% R-39%

CD4
Incumbent	TILLIE FOWLER (R) -- age 55 Elected in 1992
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2> Northeast - part of Jacksonville.

CD5
Incumbent	size=2>KAREN THURMAN (D) -- age 47 Elected in 1992
Opponent	Jack Gargan (Reform) --age 68 Retired Millionaire Businessman/'94 Gov cand
Outlook	Strong Democrat
District Profile;	size=2> Northern West Coast - Parts of Alachua and Pasco counties; Hernando and Alachua counties . 1996 House: size=2>D-62% R-38%

CD6
Incumbent	CLIFF STEARNS (R) --age 57 Elected in 1988
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2>North Central - Lake and Marion counties; part ofJacksonville . 1996 House: D-33% R-67%

CD7
Incumbent	size=2>JOHN MICA (R) -- age 55 Elected in 1992
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2> Central - Southern Seminole and Volusia counties;Deltona; Port Orange . 1996 House: D-38% R-62%

CD8
Incumbent	BILL McCOLLUM (R) -- age 54 Elected in 1980
Opponent	AKrulick (D) --age 46 Entertainer/’96 nominee
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2> Central - Orange County; part of Orlando . 1996 House: D-33% R-67%

CD9
Incumbent	size=2>MICHAEL BILIRAKIS (R) -- age 68 Elected in 1982
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2> West - Northern Pinellas and Hillsborough counties; central Pasco County; Clearwter . 1996 House: D-31% R-69%

CD10
Incumbent	size=2>C.W. "BILL" YOUNG (R) --age 67 Elected in 1970
Opponent	No Democratic opponent(D)
Outlook	Strong Republican
District Profile;	size=2> West - Southern Pinellas County; St. Petersburg . 1996 House:D-33% R-67%

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