The Democratic Party also has solicited complaints from voters, possibly to prepare its own case. At a morning briefing in Tallahassee, former Secretary of State James Baker said the Bush campaign has survived initial recounts in all 67 counties and is willing to see ballots run through counting machines again. Since 1980, mailed returns from military personnel and other Floridians living abroad have favored Republican presidential nominees. The results of those absentee ballots haven't mattered, since no statewide election has come as close as the Bush-Gore drama. Now, the election will be up in the air until at least Friday night.
All options are open of course.
But what'll be good for the country is to have this election over with so that the new administration can do the people's business. For his part, Gore huddled with his top advisers at the vice-presidential mansion in Washington. State officials said their recount showed Bush leading by 960 votes with 66 counties reporting. The 67th county, Palm Beach, is under a local court order not to certify results until after a hearing on Tuesday. But a survey of final returns in all 67 counties by the Associated Press put the Bush lead at 327 votes.