Sixty-six percent of respondents said they would support Bush if the election were held today, down from 82 percent who voted for him in 2000, according to the poll of 800 Cuban-Americans, commissioned by the William C. Velasquez Institute.

Bush won Florida in 2000 by just 537 votes after a recount battle, and the Cuban-American community has traditionally been a reliable Republican bastion.

Cuban-Americans were also reluctant to back Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Only 16 percent said they would vote for him if the election were held today, according to the poll.

Post Wire Services