Labeling of multi-polygon(?) states

[Jeff de La Beaujardiere]

I am using the "statesp020" dataset from USGS National Atlas
(http://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/nationalatlas/statesp020.tar.gz).

When I ask Mapserver to draw labels, some states have a single label 
centered in the state (e.g., Alabama), while others have multiple labels 
around their edges (e.g., Florida). See, for example,
http://map05.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/modis?SERVICE=WMS&VERSION=1.1.1&REQUEST=GetMap&LAYERS=states20m&STYLES=default&SRS=EPSG:4326&BBOX=-100.075,23.63125,-65.075,36.13125&WIDTH=700&HEIGHT=250&FORMAT=image/png

I assume this is because states with complicated boundaries, such as 
along the coast, are built from several polygons, and each polygon is 
given a label. I can reduce the number of labels per state by setting 
MINDISTANCE, but I cannot get the labels of such states placed near the 
geographic center of the state--the label is always on the boundary 
(e.g., at the tip of the Florida keys).

Is there a way to get better control of the label position, or to 
rebuild the shapefile in a way that perhaps produces a lower-res border 
but has better labeling?

-Jeff DLB