Gore says he will win ‘if every vote is counted’

By SANDRA SOBIERAJ

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Al Gore said today he had enough votes to win the presidency “if every vote is counted” and his court challenge to the Florida result is about “the integrity of our democracy.”

“What we’re talking about regards many thousands of votes that have never been counted at all,” Gore said in a telephone conference call from the vice president’s residence. “If we ignore the votes that have been cast, then where does that lead? The integrity of our democracy depends on the consent of the governed.”

Democrat Gore was determined to halt any public acceptance of George W. Bush as the next president, though Florida’s top elections officials certified his Republican rival the winner Sunday night.

After his lawyers filed papers contesting the vote count in three counties in Florida, Gore spoke in a televised conference call with Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, who came to Florida to voice their support.

“This really is about much more than which candidate wins and which candidate loses,” the vice president said. “It’s about the integrity of our system of government.”

Gore planned a televised address this evening to take his case to the public. Gore’s message is that the Florida tally certified in Bush’s favor Sunday night was, in the words of Democratic running mate Joseph Lieberman, “incomplete and inaccurate.”

As Lieberman did in the moments after Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris declared Bush the winner, Gore wanted Americans to see the Democrats’ morning-after lawsuits for a fuller recount as a means of protecting democracy.

“How can we teach our children that every vote counts if we are not willing to make a good-faith effort to count every vote,” Lieberman said Sunday night.

“Because of our belief in the importance of these fundamental American principles, Vice President Gore and I have no choice but to contest these actions.”

Lieberman spoke to reporters at a hotel near the White House. His sober address with a pair of American flags as his backdrop was Part One of Gore’s strategy for undermining Bush’s victory speech, muting images of celebrating Bush supporters, and preparing the nation for a week of intense legal maneuvers that culminate with arguments Friday before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Florida results, which provide 25 votes in the Electoral College and will decide the presidency, has been in dispute since the Nov. 7 balloting.

Harris, a Republican who campaigned for Bush, certified a hair-thin victory for Bush by 537 votes and rejected votes Gore had picked up during a manual recount in Palm Beach County – one of several actions the vice president’s legal team is contesting.

Gore’s lawyers challenged the results from Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Nassau counties in a filing early this afternoon.

Gore strategists in Florida crunched numbers into the night and presented reporters with a mathematical scenario in which Gore arguably won the state by nine votes without further recounting.

In an interview with The New York Times before Bush declared victory, Gore insisted that his contest could play out in the courts before the Dec. 12 deadline for naming members to the Electoral College and waiting would not harm the nation.

He volunteered that he has already decided “very quietly, without any public show” whom he would ask to serve in his Cabinet.

“Most of the transition (from campaign to presidency) that needs to be done at this stage doesn’t require much more than that anyway,” Gore said.

Campaign chairman William Daley told The Associated Press that Gore has kept names to himself and not yet reached out to any prospective appointees.

Gore has had several conversations with transition director Roy Neel but just one formal meeting. He said that took place Friday with Neel, Daley, vice presidential national security adviser Leon Feurth and Labor Secretary Alexis Herman.

One participant in that meeting said Gore was “emphatic” about naming Republicans to his Cabinet. Bush had successfully portrayed himself during the campaign as the better candidate to unite Republicans and Democrats.

Careful to cast his recount battle as a principled, not personal, one, Gore told the Times: “If I am successful – let me rephrase that. If a full and accurate count of the votes results in my election, I will go to extraordinary lengths to build bridges to Republicans and independents and others.”

Not one Democrat has privately urged him to give up, Gore insisted, and he has even been urged on by some Republicans. He declined to identify them.

Still, Gore promised to greet “with quiet respect and complete deference and acceptance” whatever the U.S. Supreme Court rules after hearing arguments on Bush’s claim that the Florida Supreme Court erred in allowing manual recounts.

Gore has tapped Harvard constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe and appellate specialist Teresa Roseborough to appear before the high court, Daley 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

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Our Lady of Hope Fr. Joseph Altenhofen outside of his parish’s building that will be the new home of Hope ‘N Wellness on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Hope ‘N Wellness location to open Wednesday in Everett

Our Lady of Hope Church will host the social service organization at 2617 Cedar St. in Everett.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Limited train service to resume on Amtrak Cascades

Trains will have less capacity for now, but service is expected to resume for some routes as early as Tuesday.

Marysville
Police: 66-year-old Marysville man dead from fatal stabbing

A neighbor found the man unconscious on the sidewalk as the result of an apparent stabbing. Police said they are looking for suspects.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver, suspected of DUI, hits WSP vehicle on I-5 near Everett

The trooper was blocking the HOV lane for a previous collision when his vehicle was struck Saturday morning.

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.