Home Weather Lottery Classifieds Sports Comics Interact AP Wire Web Specials

Gore visit may address racial rift By TIM NICKENS © St. Petersburg Times, published July 29, 1998 ice President Al Gore plans to fly to Florida next week and is expected to try to mend the rift between black and white Democrats. While details are sketchy, Gore plans to spend part of Aug. 7 in South Florida and is expected to attend a public event with Gov. Lawton Chiles promoting hurricane preparedness. But negotiations also are under way for a private meeting with black and white Democrats who are trying to resolve their differences. More Campaign 98 from the Times. Follow Debates 98 as the candidates prepare for their October faceoff in St. Petersburg. Share your opinions on Florida's governor race in our special forum. Among those who may attend: Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay, the Democratic nominee for governor; U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, one of three African-Americans in Florida's congressional delegation; and state Rep. Willie Logan of Opa-locka. Logan's removal as the Democrats' incoming House leader in January angered black legislators and alienated many black voters whose support is critical to MacKay and other Democrats. MacKay would say little Tuesday about the anticipated meeting. "I suspect that will be dealt with," MacKay said of the ongoing efforts by Democratic leaders to reassure black legislators and voters that they will not be taken for granted. "I hope we are well on our way to working it out." Rick Dantzler, MacKay's running mate, has been speaking regularly with state House Democrats in an attempt to develop a conciliatory statement about Logan's removal. While some African-American legislators have requested an apology, Dantzler describes his proposal as "an acknowledgement that we should have done more." "The vice president has a real interest in helping with this, and we're going to give him an opportunity to do that," Dantzler said. "It may be an opportunity for some folks to talk about pulling everything together. It's not ripe yet, but it may be by then." Hastings, who recently spoke with Gore in Washington about the problems within the state party, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. Logan, who spent the weekend on state GOP Chairman Tom Slade's sailboat in the Bahamas, said he has spoken to both Hastings and Dantzler about the efforts to arrange the meeting with Gore. He said Dantzler assured him that he would be invited, but he said he has not been given any details or committed to attend. Business | Citrus | Commentary | Entertainment Hernando | Floridian | Obituaries | Pasco | Sports State | Tampa Bay | World & Nation © Copyright 2006 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.