BY MARK SILVA

 Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman's long friendship with leaders of Miami's Cuban
 American National Foundation -- major donors to his campaigns since 1988 --
 might make it tough for the influential organization to endorse Republican
 presidential nominee George W. Bush this year.

 Lieberman, a Connecticut senator presented Tuesday as Vice President Al
 Gore's running mate, has enjoyed loyal financial support from members of the
 foundation's board since his first Senate bid in 1988.

 Foundation executive director Joe Garcia said the foundation still might decide to
 make an endorsement, depending on future meetings with the candidates. But he
 said the foundation might not feel obligated to do so if both candidates offered
 tough stands on Cuba, which Garcia referred to as ``the litmus test.''

 LITMUS TEST

 ``There would be nothing better if every member of the foundation picked [his] own
 way,'' Garcia said. ``Cuba's liberty is not Democratic or Republican. It is just that
 -- it is Cuba's liberty.''

 Among Cuban-American voters in South Florida, recent polling showed, support
 runs overwhelmingly toward Bush. But ambivalence by the foundation toward
 which party's ticket would better press exile views on Cuba could become a factor
 in a close presidential contest in Florida.

 The foundation's late founder, Jorge Mas Canosa, refrained from endorsements in
 President Clinton's contests with George Bush or Bob Dole -- making it easier for
 Cuban-American activists to choose for themselves. Former President George
 Bush received about 80 percent of the Cuban vote in 1992, but Clinton did much
 better than previous Democrats in 1996, taking 42 percent of the Hispanic vote in
 Florida.

 STILL COMMITTED

 Domingo Moreira, a member of the foundation's board and president of a Miami
 seafood company, said he remains committed to George W. Bush, although he
 acknowledged ``It's going to be hard to say no to Joe Lieberman.''

 ``It's nice to have friends on both sides,'' he said.

 Moreira's friendship with Lieberman dates to the Democrat's first campaign for
 Senate, when he was challenging then-Sen. Lowell Weicker, a Republican who
 offended the CANF by cultivating a friendship with Fidel Castro. Lieberman
 narrowly defeated Weicker.

 Among the many Miami-based contributors to Lieberman's 1988 campaign:

   The late Jorge Mas Canosa, foundation founder, gave $1,000.

   Pedro Adrian, a home builder and one of CANF's founders, gave $500.

   Tony Costa, a nurseryman and board member who was active in the
 foundation's Political Action Committee, gave $1,000, his wife, $500.

   Luis Cruz, a foundation director, gave $500.

   Francisco ``Pepe'' Hernandez, CANF's president, gave $1,000.

   Moreira, executive committee member, gave $1,000.

   Delfin Pernas, board member, gave $500.

   Felipe Valls, board member and owner of Miami's Versailles restaurant, gave
 $500.

 Many of the same people have already contributed to Lieberman's current
 reelection campaign: Moreira, with $1,000; Adrian, $500; Juan Carlos Mas
 Canosa, son of the founder, $500; Ramon Mas, brother, $500; Fernando Canto,
 foundation director, $500; president Hernandez, citing his role with the Free Cuba
 PAC, $500; Valls, $500. Erelio Peña, also a founder of the Latin Builders
 Association, gave $500.

 Jorge Mas Santos, son of CANF's founder and its current chairman, hosted a
 Lieberman fundraiser at his home last year -- as his father had in 1988.

 Still it might be hard for the Democrats to offer a better deal than the Republic
 platform, which calls for continuation of the embargo, active support of dissidents
 on the island and continuation of the Cuban Adjustment Act. The Democratic
 Party's proposed platform, which will be debated and approved next week, calls
 for continued funding for Radio Marti and ``other efforts to promote democracy.''

 TOUGH CHOICE

 But Lieberman's presence on the ticket makes the choice less clear.

 ``We feel very comfortable with the Republican Party platform,'' Garcia said. As for
 Gore, ``The addition of Joe Lieberman, a longstanding friend, makes us
 tremendously pleased as a first step. We look forward to further discussions.''

 Any hesitancy by the foundation would be a plus for Gore, said Larry Smith, a
 Democrat and former congressman who counts himself among those who
 introduced Lieberman in South Florida.

 ``At the moment, the normal belief would be that they are likely to endorse Bush,''
 Smith said. ``If they are hard-pressed to do an endorsement, that would be really
 good.''