Democratic presidential hopefuls have pledged not to campaign here ahead of Tuesday's vote, rendered meaningless after the state's delegates were stripped due to a row over the scheduling of the primary.

But Mrs Clinton arrived a day after she was routed by Senator Obama in the South Carolina primary, to hold several campaign fundraisers, which are allowed under the terms of the agreement.

'It is absolutely glorious, a perfect day here in Florida, I am happy to be here,' Mrs Clinton said, ensuring herself a local news splash as she stepped off her plane.

The Clinton campaign expects to get a spurt of news coverage from an expected victory in Florida, which may serve to diminish Senator Obama's momentum and give her a jolt going into 22 state contests on Super Tuesday, Feb 5.

Hundreds of thousands of Floridians have already taken part in the election, under the state's advance voting rules, and Mrs Clinton, tipped to easily win the state, vowed on Sunday to spend election night there.

'Hundreds of thousands of people have already voted in Florida, I want them to know that I will be there on Tuesday night,' she said.

The Obama campaign has however accused the Clinton camp of pandering to Florida voters, saying she will 'do anything' to win the nomination.

Mrs Clinton's aides turned on Senator Obama last week, after he bought national advertising on cable news channels, which included airings of campaign commercials in Florida, saying it violated the pledge.

The former first lady has said if she becomes the Democratic Party White House nominee, she will work to ensure that the 210-strong Florida delegation is seated at the party convention in Denver in August.

Florida would have been a key prize in the tense struggle for the Democratic nomination, which looks set to come down to a count of convention delegates won in state-by-state contests.

Battle against Republicans
Analysts have warned that Democrats cannot afford to anger voters in Florida, as it will be key state in the battle against Republicans in November's general election.

In 2000, the disputed election in the state ended when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of George W. Bush, effectively making him president instead of his challenger, former vice president Al Gore.

Florida officials angered Democratic party grandees when they moved the contest ahead from March to late January in the nominating calendar, arguing small states like Iowa and New Hampshire had too much sway.

Republicans in Florida also vote for a presidential nominee on Tuesday, with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain vying for first place, while trailing Rudolph Giuliani makes a last stand. -- AFP