The pejorative phrase described a state that conducted an extraordinarily close 2000
presidential election. In the process Florida placed “hanging chads” in the lexicon, introduced Sarasota’s own Katherine Harris – then the secretary of state – to America and generated controversies settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sarasota County attracted more negative attention to the state in 2006. Touch-screen computer problems and “undervote” oddities cast a shadow on Republican Vern Buchanan’s initial general-election win – by only 369 of more than 238,000 votes cast in the congressional district – against Democrat Christine Jennings. Resulting disputes went to lower courts and the U.S. House of Representatives.