MIAMI, October 18 (Notimex).— A group of eight important Florida dailies have expressed their support today for John Kerry, the Democrat candidate for the presidency, including The Tampa Tribune, a morning paper that has supported the Republicans for the last 40 years.

The Tribune – that backed Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential elections – was divided today and suggested that it would not recommend a new mandate for Bush because of his handling of the war in Iraq and the increase in federal spending.

Other dailies that announced their support for Kerry were The St. Petersburg Times, Palm Beach Post, Bradenton Herald, The Miami Herald, Florida Today, the Daytona Beach News Journal, and The Sun-Sentinel.

The majority of those backing Kerry are using the argument that Bush’s record spending and income tax cuts plan have provoked deficits never before seen in the country.

At a national level, Kerry has also received the support of influential dailies such as The New York Times and The Boston Globe, whilst Bush is backed by The Indianapolis Star, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News.

The dailies’ preferences come at a time when the voting program begins in Florida and other states this Monday.

Florida is considered to be a key state after the result of the 2000 election when Bush was awarded the presidency by a difference of 537 votes.