The New York Times wrote of the man they had endorsed, in a widely cited editorial. Bush also was too aggressive early on, critics say, disconcertingly insisting through his own aides that he was the clear winner even before the final ballots were counted and the votes officially certified by the state of Florida. Bush, who once again went before cameras yesterday in attempt to suggest that he was all but president, also allowed his aides to denounce the notion of a legal challenge to the Florida results. This put him in the awkward and unpresidential position of having to eat his words yesterday after his representatives themselves filed suit against the ongoing Florida hand count. But it seems doubtful that Bush and Gore will retreat in the least, given what is at stake.
Some observers see no surprise in that.
Neither has a model for it. But J. Gregory Payne, director of the Center for Ethics and Political and Health Communication at Emerson College in Boston, was tougher on wannabes-elect. He will have to reach out to the other side to get anything done. And yet they can't even seem to grapple properly with the conflict here.