True. The Gore Camp has no reason to fear a statewide recount, or a statewide revote. Folks have got to understand that it is Bush--down in the national popular vote, and potentially down after Gore's four counties are recounted--that is the scared rabbit here.
I continue to state that Bush missed a wonderful and potentially marveling American opportunity by not conceding Florida to Gore. The whole nation would have respected him, and he'd have set the table as nice as anyone could for a future run for the presidency.
As it stands now, half of those who voted don't want him. A poll was shown--I forget which network--that stated among those who didn't vote 55 percent would have voted for Gore and 33 percent would have voted for Bush. OK, so do the math. Half of those who voted, half the nation, voted for Gore and nearly a two to one majority of those who didn't vote preferred Gore. Bush, if somehow he ends up in the president's seat, would govern with three-quarters of the nation against him, and this with all of the current controversy. Not a nice scenario for Bush.
Ultimately, Bush would have been politically better off, becoming the American hero to both Democrats and Republicans had he conceded to Gore. But I think, right now, that window has closed. Looks like to three-quarters of the nation he's gonna be a chump no matter what happens. |
