Gore makes prime-time appeal

By RON FOURNIER

Associated Press

Al Gore defended his unprecedented reach to the courts Monday, declaring "let the people have their say" by reopening Florida recounts that could reverse the state’s make-or-break presidential election results.

Meanwhile, George W. Bush plunged into the work of building a new government.

A day after Bush summoned TV cameras to press for Gore’s concession, the vice president laid out his case for letting the courts decide the fairness of Florida’s long vote count: "This is America. When votes are cast, we count them. We don’t arbitrarily set them aside because it’s too difficult to count them," he said before a prime-time television audience.

It was perhaps Gore’s last, best chance to explain why the closest presidential election in 124 years didn’t end Sunday night when Florida’s top elections officer, a GOP partisan, certified Bush the winner by 537 votes out of 6 million cast.

Gore protested the results in a Florida state court earlier Monday, becoming the first candidate in U.S. history to contest a presidential election before the judiciary. His attorneys asked for a quick hearing, but may not get one before the end of the week.

And on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear GOP arguments against recounts.

But now Bush must decide if he wants to keep the court case alive. Certification of the Florida presidential vote gave Bush most of what he asked the high court to give him in a case to be heard this week. And, if he does, the nine Supreme Court justices must decide if his new status as the certified winner leaves them anything useful to decide.

The stakes could hardly be higher.

"If the people do not in the end choose me, so be it," Gore said standing at a presidential-style lectern before a dozen American flags in the vice presidential residence. "The outcome will have been fair, and the people will have spoken."

"If they choose me, so be it. I would then commit to bringing this country together. But, whatever the outcome, let the people have their say, and let us listen," Gore said, hours after Democratic leaders and President Clinton queued up to show their support.

With the agonizingly close election stretching into its fourth week, neither side appeared ready to give way in a fierce struggle that has entangled the judiciary in the business of presidential politics, threatening to spill past the Dec. 12 deadline for selecting state electors.

For his part, Bush moved quickly to take on the work, if not the title, of president-elect. Running mate Dick Cheney criticized the Clinton-Gore administration for refusing Bush access to $5.3 million in government transition funds and a federal office building set aside for the presidential changeover. He announced the Bush team would raise donations to finance its own operation.

Gore believes he would overtake Bush if the final tally would include recounted ballots that were rejected by Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris — minus the 174 votes added to Bush’s lead during what Democrats claim was an illegal, eleventh-hour scramble for GOP ballots, including military votes from overseas.

The vice president faces a tough legal fight — persuading a court to overturn a certified election — and an electorate with limited patience.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Palm Beach County said the results of the county’s manual recount of thousands of presidential ballots do not match up with figures from the last machine count. Denise Cote said "unaudited figures" from the manual recount were sent to state elections officials for certification, though that doesn’t mean the numbers were wrong.

Democrats plan to step up their public relations campaign Ttoday, putting forward Florida voters who say they feared their votes for Gore were not counted.

"A vote is not just a piece of paper," Gore said in the television speech. "A vote is a human voice — a statement of human principle, and we must not let those voices be silenced."

His brief appearance was part of a fierce public relations show by both sides — the Gore camp trying to show Democratic solidarity and the Bush team attempting to discredit the vice president’s challenge of the Florida certification.

The vice president was handed a heavy burden when a Florida Supreme Court deadline expired Sunday night, freeing Harris to declare her political ally the winner of Florida’s election and America’s White House.

Gore’s attorneys protested results from Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Nassau counties and asked the judge to "certify that the true and accurate results of the 2000 presidential election in Florida is that the electors of Al Gore and Joe Lieberman received the majority of the votes cast in the election."

The case was assigned to Judge N. Sanders Sauls, a folksy jurist with broad authority under Florida law to "correct any alleged wrong and to provide any relief appropriate." Gore wants a special master to examine contested ballots.

Bush’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, quietly signed the paperwork required by federal law to certify Bush the winner of Florida’s 25 electoral votes. That would put him one vote over the 270 required to become the nation’s 43rd president — if courts uphold brother Jeb Bush’s verdict.

High-minded principles aside, Gore said early in the day that the issue was also personal: If state or federal courts reopen handcounts that concluded Sunday, Bush’s 537-vote edge would be at risk. "There are more than enough votes to change the outcome," Gore said, "and that’s an important factor as well."

At the White House, Clinton called for calm and, echoing Gore, said the "the integrity of the voter, every single vote," is at stake.

Yet rumblings were heard from the party’s grassroots.

"I think the vice president should take the high ground and hand it over," Rep. Julia Carson, D-Ind., said in a phone interview.

"Gore might want to take it to court, but I just don’t know," Joe Sulzer, a Democratic state lawmaker from Chillicothe, Ohio, said in a telephone interview. "Without help quick, George Bush will be our next president."

Other Democratic activists such as John Pound in Santa Fe, N.M., and Mary Gail Gwaltney of Las Cruces, N.M., said Gore has a duty to keep fighting after winning the national popular vote and coming so close in Florida.

"What’s the rush to get it wrong?" said Gwaltney, a DNC member.

Bush, for one, is in a hurry to take over. He met with aides in Austin, Texas, to discuss his plans for the Cabinet and White House staff, and speculation mounted in GOP circles about his new team.

Retired Gen. Colin Powell is still Bush’s choice to be secretary of state, but senior advisers to the governor said the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t want his selection to be injected into Sunday’s political tumult. Bush decided before the election to name Condoleezza Rice as his national security adviser and has not changed his mind, senior advisers said.

Copyright ©2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.