They are so well known that, polls show, only about 10 percent of New York's potential voters are in the "undecided" column.

Less than 30 minutes after Mr. Bush's comments about Florida, election forecasters were putting the it back into the undecided column.

Rather, the disenchanted have tended to end up in the undecided column.

More significantly, perhaps, the percentage of voters in the undecided column has increased to 19 percent from 10 percent.

Today, at least 11 of those in the undecided column announced their position: seven for the agreement and four against it.

Over several polls, black support for Mr. Dukakis has been fluctuating, between the Democratic ticket and the undecided column.

"But as of now I'm in the 'undecided' column," he said.

And around 9 p.m., in yet another twist, the networks announced that they were putting Florida back into the undecided column.

But most of the lost support is not going to his opponents but to the undecided column.

Many such voters have apparently shifted to the undecided column, which now stands at 12 percent, compared with 7 percent last spring.