What state proved to be of key importance in the 2000 presidential election?A) Minnesota // B) New York // C) New Mexico // D) Florida

This one is fairly direct.  Florida is the state that was
in doubt in the 2000 Presidential Election.  Both candidates had fought hard for all of
the states that were "toss- ups" but no greater intensity emerged than the one in
Florida.  Many in the Democratic circles believed that if Al Gore had won Florida, the
2000 election would have been his.  At the same time, a Bush strategy to the White House
could not avoid Florida.  Both candidates campaigned intensely and with zeal in
Florida.  Election night results first declared Florida for Al Gore, the Democrat, and
then when exit polls proved to be misleading, news networks moved the state to the
"undecided" column, while others declared it for Bush.  In the end, the other 49 states
had been decided and counted with neither candidate having reached the 270 electoral
vote "magic number."  Both candidates needed Florida and only one could have it.  Thus
began the winter of recounts, hanging chads, dimpled chads, and the Supreme Court
decision in Gore v. Bush where a 5-4 vote halted the recount and awarded Bush the state
of Florida.