2001 Miami Mayoral Election

Here, 'the Cuban vote'—which ousted Ferré in 1985 in favor of challenger Xavier Suarez—and how well Ferré did with it would determine whether or not he'd return to the Job he'd been ousted from, and tried to return to once before in 1987.

Emphasizing his experience and trusted leadership, and with an early cash advantage, Ferré appeared as an early frontrunner against the First Time Candidate. 

However, Diaz—enphasizing positive change and connection to the Elian González case—was utilizing his connections to the Cuban Community to try and harness the community to become mayor, reaching out to other first round candidate's supporters to do so.

Reminder, the Elián González Case was one where the Clinton Administration repatriated a young Cuban exile to Cuba based on the wishes of the boys father—who lived in Cuba—and against that of the boy's family in Miami. With the Cuban American Community wanting the boy to stay in Miami

The Elián González case proved particularly thorny for Ferré, as rumors about his alleged support for frm. Attorney General Janet Reno—who ordered the raid and deportation—harmed his standing within the Cuban American community of which Diaz wasn't just a member, but one of the young child's lawyers