''There's a broader base of support for minority candidates, as evidenced by Barack Obama, but we still have some members who are cautious and not as trusting,'' he said, adding, ``When you have districts with such a high percentage of minority voters, it prevents districts abutting them from possibly electing minorities.''

The proposed amendments specifically prohibit voting districts that deny minority voting rights. And after civil rights activists warned that a bipartisan redistricting commission would not adequately represent black voters, proponents of the amendments decided to keep power in the hands of the Legislature.

CAUTIOUS APPROACH

Still, Democratic U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Miramar and Corrine Brown of Jacksonville -- black incumbents who joined Congress in the 1992 election that broke racial barriers -- are not on board yet. Neither is a small handful of black state lawmakers. ''I'm always cautious because of the gains minorities have made,'' said state Sen. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale. ``I want to make sure we can continue to make gains or hold onto what we have.''

Raising the stakes even higher is the prospect of Florida gaining one or two more seats in Congress after the 2010 census because of population growth. Democrats point out that although they are slightly ahead in statewide voter registration, Republicans hold nearly two-thirds of the congressional and legislative seats.

The amendments represent the Democratic party's best hope for loosening the GOP's stranglehold.

''Obviously I have to review if before I could opine on the particular amendment,'' Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said last week. ``I think the system we have is working pretty well.''

The Republican Party of Florida has not yet taken an official position, and spokeswoman Katie Gordon said the party is not planning to spend money on the campaign. Opposition could still emerge from Republican-friendly groups and corporate interests seeking to maintain the political status quo.

Republican Mike Haridopolos, who is slated to lead the political map-making in the Florida Senate, said the redistricting process already follows guidelines meant to ensure fairness.

''There are already very, very strict laws -- let alone court rulings -- in place,'' he said. ``The fact is that liberals are clearly pushing this.''

While FairDistrictsFlorida.org is officially nonpartisan, its leadership and donors are mostly Democrats. The group has raised about $1 million, mostly from the traditional Democratic donor base of party activists, unions and trial lawyers.

Most of the money has gone to a California-based, politically liberal consulting firm that deploys petition gatherers statewide.

One of the few Republicans leading the effort is FairDistrictsFlorida.org Chairman Thom Rumberger, a Tallahassee attorney and veteran of the 1992 battle over voting boundaries.

''Nobody wants to give up their power, but it's the right thing to do,'' he said. ``I guarantee the Democrats would be doing the same damn thing if the shoe was on the other foot.''

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