For Gore,
What Next?
Democratic Candidate Faces
Ultimate Political Decision
In the face of an unfavorablet
U.S. Supreme Court decision,
Vice President Al Gore is now
assessing whether or not he
can keep contesting the
presidential election. (Kevin
Lamarque/AP Photo)
By Peter Dizikes
Dec. 13 — Slapped with a devastating
U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Al Gore
now faces the toughest decision of
his political life: Will he concede the
presidential election, and if so, how?
With the Supreme Court having
overturned a Florida Supreme Court ruling
that had ordered ballot recounts in Florida,
Gore’s chances of reversing George W.
Bush’s victory in certified results of the
state — and thereby the nation — seem to
have evaporated.
Gore, who watched the announcement of
the decision with his wife, Tipper, did not
speak publicly in the hours following the
high court verdict, leaving open the question
of when he will address the nation, and
what he will say.
“Al Gore and Joe Lieberman are now
reviewing the 5-4 decision issued tonight by
the Supreme Court of the United States,”
campaign chairman William Daley said in a
statement released to reporters Tuesday
night. “We will address the Court’s
decision in full detail at a time to be
determined [Wednesday].”
The Supreme Court ruling all but assures
Bush of victory. But by sending Gore’s case
back to the Florida Supreme Court, it may
have left some wiggle room for the vice
president and his lawyers — if they have
the stomach to carry on the fight.
One source close to the vice president
told ABCNEWS Tuesday night, “We’re not
depressed. We’re angry.” The source added
“He’s speaking [Wednesday], but he hasn’t
decided what he’s going to say … Don’t
declare a winner before you know there’s a
winner.”
Gore has been consulting with his
lawyers, analyzing the legal options left for
him, and is planning a round of conference
calls with top aides beginning at 9 a.m. ET
today to chart his course.
But perhaps more important than
studying his possible legal remedies, the
vice president has little time to evaluate big
political questions, including how much
longer the public will accept his electoral
contest.
In the longer term, Gore also must
consider how his choices now will affect
his shot at mounting a rematch against Bush
in 2004.
In recent days, Gore aides have already
said the vice president is unlikely to use the
word “concede” if he drops out. More
likely is a tacit refusal to acknowledge Bush
has won with a simple announcement that he
will “withdraw” from the campaign.
Democrats, Papers React
But it didn’t take long after the court
announced its decision for Gore to hear the
first rumblings in the Democratic ranks that
he should consider folding, from none other
than the chairman of his party.
“It is very likely that [Texas] Gov. Bush
will be the president of the United States
and I think the vice president’s going to call
for uniting behind him, and I would too,”
Democratic National Committee general
chair Ed Rendell said early on. “The
election’s over and we’ve got to get some
things done for this country.”
But exhibiting a desire among many
Democrats to keep fighting against all odds,
Rendell later tempered his comments amid
pressure from others in his party, saying his
earlier comments were based on an
understanding that Gore’s legal options had
been exhausted.
“If there is an available legal remedy,
and that can be explained to the people, I
think it should be pursued,” Rendell said on
ABCNEWS’ Nightline. “In many ways,
we’ve still got until the 18th.”
The 538 members of the Electoral
College cast their votes on that date.
“I think it is important how he deals with
his statement [Wednesday],” said New
Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli, who
spearheaded the Democrats’ efforts to
retake the Senate this year. “One way or
another, the vice president is going to have
to clarify his intentions.”
Gore also faces calls for concession
from editorial pages of the nation’s
newspapers.
A New York Times editorial asserts the
court ruling “has brought the presidential
election to a conclusion,” and calls on both
candidates to adopt conciliatory stances:
“Mr. Bush needs to be gracious and unifying
in victory, and Vice President Gore must
master the difficult task of placing the
national need for continuity ahead of any
bitterness he may feel.”
Speeches Ready?
There were signs earlier today that Gore
may have been preparing an address in
anticipation of the Supreme Court decision.
Eli Attie, one of Gore’s main
speechwriters, was observed at the vice
president’s residence in Washington in the
early evening.
And Gore’s running mate, Sen. Joseph
Lieberman, told a Connecticut radio station
on Monday he had already prepared two
versions of a concession speech, and
assumed he would be finally delivering it if
the high court ruled against the Democratic
ticket.
“If the Supreme Court rules in Gov.
Bush’s favor … that’s probably the end of
it” Lieberman said.
Lieberman had anticipated delivering his
concession speech as early as Friday, but
the Florida Supreme Court ruled statewide
recounts should continue, temporarily
breathing life into Gore’s candidacy.
But the U.S. Supreme Court granted Bush
a reprieve on Saturday, ordering a stay of
the recounts, and Tuesday night overturned
the Florida decision.
The high court verdict has also allowed
the Florida Legislature to certify a pro-Bush
slate of electors that cannot be overturned
by the U.S. Congress.
Bush Prepares for Office
Republicans, hoping for a quick resolution
to the electoral dispute, have already begun
emphasizing the length of the post-Election
Day battle for the presidency.
“This has been long and arduous process
for everyone involved on both sides,” said
former secretary of state James Baker on
Tuesday night. Baker has been heading
Republican efforts to monitor the Florida
recount.
Bush has been making highly visible
transition efforts since the election and
especially in the last two weeks,
establishing a transition office and meeting
publicly with prominent candidates for
Cabinet and staff positions.
But aides to Bush shot down a published
report earlier this week saying that the GOP
nominee had a speech prepared for the
moment when he would claim the
presidency.
And the Bush campaign has still not
indicated if the Texas governor is planning
to speak in public today.
Advisers, careful not to appear too
jubilant, say they will make their decisions
primarily based on what Gore chooses to
do, and are avoiding calling on Gore to
concede in the wake of the ruling.
In a symbol of the uncertainty still
surrounding the presidential contest, one
senior adviser, asked if he thought Bush had
now won the election, would only reply
warily, “I think so.” |
