JACKSONVILLE, Updated 11:44 a.m. EST November 6, 2000 -- In the last 100 hours of his campaign for the White House, Texas Gov. George W. Bush made brief stop in Jacksonville to spend the night, attend a religious service at a downtown church, and meet with the Rev. Billy Graham.

This was Bush's second visit to Jacksonville in as many weeks, although he made no public appearance during this brief stop.

Arriving at the Southpoint Marriott late Saturday to spend the night, Bush, joined by his wife, Laura, and the family of his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, for a private church service at the non-denominational St. Andrews Church downtown.

"Great way to start off the stretch run," he told reporters before entering. "No politics, just prayer and reflection."

Afterward, shaking hands with the Rev. Gretchen Van Aken, she told Bush: "Remember, the Lord himself chooses the right man."

The Bushs then returned to their hotel, where the Republican presidential candidate prayed and had breakfast with the Rev. Billy Graham, who all but endorsed the Republican ticket.

Bush then left Jacksonville for the first of four scheduled rallies in Florida cities, beginning with West Palm Beach Sunday afternoon.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also pitched in, telling Sunday talk-show interviewers his brother will win Florida because "he has a message that people really believe in."

The Democratic ticket has also devoted considerable attention to the Sunshine State in the last week of the campaign. Both Al Gore and Joe Lieberman were in central Florida last Wednesday. The campaign has stops planned in Tampa and Miami before Gore returns home to Tennessee on Tuesday to vote.

Florida, with its 25 electoral votes, is shaping up as a must-win state for the presidency.

Conflicting polls show the state leaning toward Bush, Gore or altogether a toss-up.

"If Florida were nailed down, most analysts would call Bush a solid favorite," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political science professor and expert on Southern politics. "Bush seems more competitive in Michigan and Pennsylvania than he does in his brother's state."

In the week leading up to the Nov. 7 election, Gore, his running mate Joseph Lieberman, Republican running mate Dick Cheney and former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, all visited the state.

"The irony is that because the race got tight in Florida and because Al Gore decided to focus so much attention on Florida, it has motivated and absolutely spurred our supporters in Florida to basically be chomping at the bit to go and vote," said Leo DiBenigno, spokesman for the Bush campaign in Florida.

However, the Democrats also motivated their base when Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, was nominated to the ticket, said Lance deHaven-Smith, a political science professor at Florida State University. "That altered the dynamics for South Florida and put it in play."

Clay Roberts, director of the state Division of Elections, said he expects the increased campaigning to generate a high turnout. He would not predict a percentage.

The highest turnout for Florida in a presidential election was in 1992 when 83 percent of Florida voters cast ballots in the race between Bill Clinton and then-President Bush.

When Clinton ran for re-election in 1996, only 67 percent of voters turned out, the lowest recorded Florida turnout for a presidential election.

Roberts said he did not think this year's turnout would match 1992 because of the federal "motor voter" law has increased voter registration. The 1995 law requires states to offer potential voters the opportunity to register at motor-vehicle tag agencies, public schools, welfare offices, military recruiting offices, libraries and many other non-courthouse points.

Even though the base of registered voters has increased, the percentage of those actually voting has declined, Roberts said.

And the fact that the candidates are spending so much time in Florida may not make much of a difference to some people. Denise Durrance of Orlando said she's not impressed with the candidates' constant presence.

"It's a waste of time," said Durrance, a 39-year-old registered Democrat who's voting for Bush. "There's 50 states, and I think they should spread it out a little more."

Kristen Degan, of Orlando, said she is still "straddling the fence."

"I was really for Bush's personality before, but now that the day is coming, I have to ask myself, 'Is that why I'm voting for him?"' said Degan, a Republican. "But now I really have to look at it like Gore is probably more behind the things that I believe in, the things I want to change."

Personality plays less of an issue for many, deHaven-Smith said. "The seniors are less influenced by persona and more influenced by policy."

He said people seem to like Bush more as a person but that in a diverse state like Florida, issues will drive the voters.

"Florida ends up being a crucial state right now because it's more volatile than the rest of the South," which leans more Republican, he said. "This is going to be a highly contested two-party state for the foreseeable future and that will make it a prize."