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Trump, who is obviously relishing his half-serious flirtation with the Reform Party presidential nomination, landed in Miami from the Dominican Republic, where he attended the 32nd-birthday party for baseball star Sammy Sosa at Sosa's new pyramid-style mansion.

Trump came to South Florida to address two separate constituencies, Cuban-Americans and members of the Reform Party, in his uphill battle to convince both that Trump is the real deal. In both instances he received warm receptions, but few assurances of support.

About 1,000 supporters of the Cuban American National Foundation, the most powerful anti-Castro lobby in the United States, gave Trump several standing ovations during a speech Monday night peppered with applause lines. "Castro has jails full of dissidents, cemeteries full of patriots and a government full of thugs," Trump said, before unveiling his highly-developed Castro policy: "Adios, amigo." The crowd went wild.

Trump was invited to Miami by the foundation after he wrote an editorial for the Miami Herald June 25 denouncing any lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba. He wrote that he had turned down repeated offers from European investment groups to join in money-making schemes on the island. He reiterated that stance in Miami.

"Hardly a day goes by that an offer doesn't come across my desk to go into business in Cuba," he said. "I've decided I won't do it until Castro is gone." After the foundation president Jorge Mas Santos praised Trump's remarks, Trump joked: "Does this mean I get the first hotel after Cuba is free?"

At least he appeared to be joking.

Trump was met at Miami International Airport by Mas Santos and other foundation officials, after landing in his jet subtly emblazoned with "TRUMP" in large gold lettering on its sides with stage prop Knauss firmly in tow. At a press conference later Knauss was asked if she was planning to redecorate the east wing of the White House. She said she would wait and see.

A police escort then led Trump's limousine to the Little Havana section of Miami where he spoke at the headquarters of the Veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion, to another warm reception.

But leaders of the conservative Cuban American foundation made it clear their regard for Trump did not translate into support for his Reform Party bid. "This has nothing to do with votes," said foundation-board member Ninoska Perez Castellon. "It is simply a way to say thank you because he is willing to say no to Castro."

"He has spoken of our cause on CNN news and Larry King and that has raised the standard for the other candidates," said foundation spokesman Fernando Rojas. "He has gotten our message out and we appreciate that."

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