Those are absolutely meaningless.
Who's looking at the polls? I haven't
read a poll in at least 15 minutes.
I'm telling you, it's looking good,
but we've got to keep hammering
at the undecideds.
Between phone calls I'm praying.
We need to satellite Lieberman
to Nevada and Arizona.
We can have it set up by 11:00
if we can talk him into it.
He's walking in right now. Hold on.
Fournier is waiting for you on line two.
Yeah, Fournier, what can I do for you?
Looks like voter turnout's gonna be
at an all-time low. Any response?
As I keep saying
and I'll continue to say,
the foundation of a democracy
is based on its citizens' right to vote.
A.B.C. on three... winning electoral,
losing popular.
- Hang on a sec. Yes.
- Hi, Ron. A number of the polls
show that Gore will lose the popular
vote, but win the electoral college.
What would the Gore response be
if this occurred?
The Gore response would be
that Governor Bush
is gonna have to respect the electoral
process no matter what the outcome.
Fournier,
the foundation of our democracy
is based upon
the citizens' right to vote.
It is our duty as Americans
to fulfill that responsibility.
- C.N.N. on one... the same.
- Hang on. Yes.
Looks like you're gonna lose
the popular vote...
I know the question.
Here's the answer...
Governor Bush is gonna have
to respect the electoral process
no matter what the outcome. Fournier...
"It is our duty as Americans
to fulfill that responsibility
"because we must never forget
that every vote counts."
You're the only liaison I know
that actually sounds sincere
when you spew that shit.
- Background?
- Yeah, go ahead.
Are you going to join
the new administration?
That would depend
on the position he offers,
but I don't think so{\he's going
.
He's barely spoken to me
since I got back to campaign.
- But if he does?
- No comment.
- Talk to you later.
- Ron Klain's office.
I have a Lester Hyman on two.
Hey Lester,
what can I do for you this morning?
If the 32nd precinct opens
even one minute late, I swear to god,
I will fly down there with a crowbar
and open the goddamn door myself.
Whouley?
Ron, you look like a fuckin' bolshevik.
I just got off the phone
with Lester Hyman.
We may have a problem
in Palm Beach County.
A bunch of older voters think
they accidentally voted
for Pat Buchanan by mistake...
and not just a few of 'em, a lot.
- Jeremy... Where is it again?
- Palm Beach.
Get me what's-her-name,
Theresa Lepore on the phone, please.
We wouldn't be having this problem
if you were still running this show.
But since you're not, how about
gettin' me a coffee and fuckin' Danish?
- But before I do that...
- Yes?
- Are we going to win this thing?
- No.
Yes, but it's gonna be a squeaker.
You always said
it would come down to Florida.
Yes, I did. Jeremy, Theresa Lepore.
- It's busy. I'm trying.
- Well, try harder, please.
- Thanks, man.
- No problem.
- Hey, Morehouse.
- Hey, Ron.
What happened to your leg?
Twisted my knee
getting off air force two.
Did they upgrade you
or are you still flying in luggage?
Put some ice on it.
Hey, Ron.
Hold on a sec.
Ron Klain.
- I'm sorry about this.
- Hey, no worries.
- Thanks.
- That's good.
- Complete this part right here.
- Yes, sir.
I'll get it to the Vice President
right away.
Good.
Okay.
Look, Ron, I don't want to bullshit you,
so let me get right to it.
Roy Neel is putting out feelers
for the transition team and
he told me al really wants you onboard.
The Vice President
wants to offer you the lead
in reviewing candidates
for jobs beneath the cabinet.
Bill, that's the same job
I had eight years ago.
I know it's not ideal,
but Al really wants you to do this.
And I don't think he's going
to understand why you wouldn't.
Maybe it has something to do
with the fact
that he didn't exactly back me when
Coelho pushed me out of the campaign.
We all know Coelho was a big mistake.
That's why he's gone and you're back.
Right, working under the people
that used to work for me.
Everyone appreciates you coming back.
It's the first thing I did
when I took over this campaign.
And I did it because I hate
what happened to you. It was bullshit.
But this is a good opportunity
for you to get back on the inside.
Tell the Vice President
I have been delighted
to write press releases for the last
three months and work on rapid response,
but I will not be able to accept his
eight-year demotion at the current time.
Ron, would...
Would you think about it?
I'll keep you up to date on exit polls.
The Vice President and his wife
voted this morning
at Forks River Elementary in Elmwood.
Chris called earlier.
He said if Gore wins,
you can have the week off.
If he loses, he wants you
in the office by noon tomorrow.
They don't call Warren Christopher
the great negotiator for nothing.
So I take it you're not gonna be
joining the Gore administration.
I understand
what you're saying to me,
but I haven't heard anything about that.
The Governor promised
to go to California,
and that's why the Governor
went to California.
And he always keeps his promises.
Absolutely.
I'm finally in the Governor's mansion,
and it is pretty imposing.
Now we're all seated at dinner
and everybody bows their heads
for prayer.
And I am sitting there thinking
"What's a nice jewish boy
from Pennsylvania doing here
"praying with the Governor of Texas?"
And the Governor leans over
and he whispers in my ear,
"It's about time we got
some methodist blood in you."
And I got relaxed very very quickly.
It was a lovely lovely moment.
Are we gonna win, Mr. Ginsberg?
By tomorrow morning
the stains of Bill Clinton
will be washed away
and honor and dignity will finally
be restored to the White House.
Hey, Ben,
did you hear about Palm Beach County?
Revote! The ballot is unfair!
It should be clearer
where you're punching.
I understand.
I want to talk to somebody.
Revote!
Is this what all the fuss is about?
Judge Burton, I've had three friends
call me in a panic
because they think they voted
for Pat Buchanan.
They're very upset.
Theresa, why did you list the candidates
on both sides of the ballot?
to get all the candidates
on one side was very small
and I was worried that the older voters
would have trouble reading them.
We're going to need a lawyer.
The presidential race
is crackling like a hickory fire here.
This promises to be one of the closest
races in American presidential history.
The big prize, the brass ring
for this evening... The state of Florida
A big call to make... CNN announces
that we call Florida
in the Al Gore column.
Al Gore wins the state of Florida.
Florida was supposed
to be George W. Bush country.
And you can bet that Governor Bush
will be madder than a rained-on rooster
that his brother, the Governor,
wasn't able to carry this state for him.
Stand by. Stand by.
What the networks giveth,
the networks taketh away.
NBC news is now taking
Florida out of Vice President Gore's
column.
Waiter, one order of crow, please.
Call the doctor, call the police,
call a psychic.
In Florida, it's tightened up.
All eyes on Florida at this hour.
- This is the answer Florida.
- What the heck is going on in Florida?
Whoever wins Florida won this election.
I apologize.
We're going to make a projection now.
ABC news is now going to project
that Florida goes to Mr. Bush
Bush wins.
Florida goes the presidency is Bush.
That's it. Sip it, savor it...
Unless there is a terrible calamity...
...cup it, photostat it,
underline it in red...
...George W. Bush by our projection
is going to be...
...press it in a book,
put it in an album, hang it on a wall...
- The 43rd president...
- The 43rd president...
The 43rd President of the United States.
At 18 minutes past 2:00 eastern time,
CNN declares that George Walker Bush
has won Florida's 25 electoral votes
and this should put him over the top.
Ladies and gentlemen, listen up!
Al Gore has just called the Governor
and conceded!
You did a great job.
All of you, great job.
Area clear.
Are you okay?
We've learned that the Vice President
is on his way
to deliver his concession speech
at the War Memorial Plaza
here in Nashville.
Can't say enough about
the race George Bush ran...
...but let no person say
that Al Gore did not
pour himself into this campaign...
- Ron Klain.
- It's Fournier.
I've got no comment at this time, Ron.
Why did Gore concede?
Hang on a second.
Why did Gore concede?
Because we lost the election, Ron.
Jeremy, get Nick Baldick.
Hurry up.
Ron, The Associated Press
has different numbers than the networks.
What?
The networks have all called it.
Gore conceded. He's on his way
to the Plaza right now...
All I'm saying is the oldest
news organization in the country
has not yet called this election.
We still believe Florida's
too close to call. I don't understand
what the hell you guys are doing
- What is it?
- I'll call you back, Ron.
You have reached Bill Daley.
Please leave a message.
Damn it.
- Ron Klain.
- Ron, I think
the networks have the wrong numbers.
It's gonna sound insane...
I just got off with Baldick...
A machine in Volusia went crazy.
Get this... it actually added
and subtracted thousands
of votes from Gore. It went backwards.
Gore's count right now
is negative 16,000 in that county.
- So what are the real numbers?
- When you recalculate
the entire state,
we're down by less than 15,000.
- So it's a machine recount.
- We're still alive.
Wait, no. Gore conceded to Bush.
He's on his way to the plaza.
- You're fuckin' kiddin' me
- Didn't you see the news?
The networks all called it.
Jesus. Hang on.
Guys, what's happening?
What's going on?
...two senior Gore campaign officials
that the Vice President placed
a phone call to the Texas Governor.
The Vice President
is now in his motorcade
due here in Downtown Nashville
in just a few minutes
to deliver remarks...
Jesus Christ.
- Get me Bill Daley.
- No no, I can't get him.
I've been trying.
I can't reach anybody.
- What the hell is going on here?
- Wait, Daley...
You can reach him through
the white house signal office. Try that.
Yeah.
No word from the Gore campaign yet.
We've tried king a few phone calls...
Fuck.
- Damn it.
- Try Lehane, he might be there already.
Good idea.
No, he's not in this book.
The networks got it wrong
twice in the same night?
- We're going to a machine recount.
- We need to stop him
before he goes on stage. Whatever
happens, he can't make his speech.
- Who's gonna grab him?
- Morehouse. We'll intercept at the car.
Get me David Morehouse.
We will hear from the Vice President,
we're told, in about 15 minutes.
- Morehouse here.
- Gore didn't lose.
You gotta stop him at the car.
Vice President Al Gore's motorcade
has arrived.
Mr. Gore will likely make
a very brief statement.
We want Gore!
We want Gore!
No, Mr. Vice President,
Mr. Vice President.
Sir, Mr. Vice president.
Hold on a second. Hold it, pal.
We know the Vice President is backstage.
We've been trying to reach more
of his senior aides
to find out reasons for the delay.
We've been unsuccessful in doing so...
My people aren't seeing
the same numbers as the networks.
Neither is Karl.
We want Gore!
Mr. Vice President.
Mr Vice President.
- Sir, sir. It's urgent.
- What is it, David?
Daley needs to speak to you.
He just needs five minutes.
I just spoke to Bush.
He's waiting for me to give this speech.
- I'm not going to keep him waiting.
- Please, Mr. Vice President,
there's a problem
with the numbers in Florida.
...the populare that looks like
one of the closest...
Governor, Al Gore is on the phone.
Let me make sure I understand.
You are calling back
to retract your concession?
Excuse me, but you don't have
to get snippy about it.
My little brother has assured me
I won the state of Florida.
Well, your little brother
is not the ultimate authority on this.
Mr. Vice President,
you do what you have to do.
Yes!
The Vice President
has recalled the Governor
and retracted his concession.
This thing will be over
in 24, 48 hours tops.
- Honey...
- Yeah?
Be careful down there.
They have alligators.
I'll see you friday.
...has called Governor Bush
and retracted his concession.
What are these people yelling?
Let's listen, turn our sound up here.
Recount!
"Recount."
They are saying, "Recount."
Secretary of State
Katherine Harris speaking.
What the hell is going on, Katherine?
What are the final numbers?
This is the Secretary of State
Katherine Harris.
You'll have to call Clay Roberts,
director of...
Katherine, it's Jeb!
What are the final numbers?
Who won Florida?
There she is!
We'll have a statement later.
Bush received 2,909,135 votes.
Gore received 2,907,351 votes.
- What's the difference, Clay?
- Sorry.
Bush takes Florida by 1,784 votes.
Or .03%.
Any difference of less than .5 of 1%
triggers a mandatory machine recount.
Thank you Clay.
We will now proceed
to a mandatory machine recount.
All that was needed was 30,000
to trigger an automatic recount.
We're only behind by 1,784.
They're going to run every ballot
through the counting machines again.
The machines are not precise.
You'll get a slightly different total
every time you run them through.
It's even possible we might pull ahead
by tomorrow morning.
But if Bush maintains his lead,
I'm sure they're gonna want
to move it fast
and Katherine Harris
is gonna try to certify
a Bush victory right at the deadline,
which is in six days.
Of course she will,
she's co-chair of his Florida campaign.
She would have certified
a month ago if she could have.
Anybody here ever heard of a "chad"?
One by one, each of
Florida's 67 counties run their ballots
through the counting machines
a second time.
This process is overseen
by a three-person canvassing board
made up of county and local officials.
- All final tallies must be submitted...
- Yeah, what is it, Joe?
Are you watching? Daley's on Channel 6.
Mr. Daley, what makes you think
the results of the recount
will be any different than they are now?
Well, at this point
nobody really knows, Matt,
whether it will be different or not.
His daddy stole it for J.F.K.,
and now he's gonna steal it for Gore.
I've asked Warren Christopher,
the former Secretary of State,
to come in and oversee
the recount for us...
Okay, they got Warren Christopher...
Secretary of State Warren Christopher
will lead a Gore legal team...
Who were we thinking?
It's gonna be a litigation nightmare.
Every lawyer from New York to Havana
is gonna be waving their briefcases
up and down on the streets of Florida.
I'm tellin' ya,
they're gonna be fallin' out of the sky.
Can you get back to the airport?
I can be there in an hour.
Hundreds of voters are lined up
in Palm Beach County today
to sign affidavits stating that
they were confused by the ballot.
A petition is being circulated
demanding a revote.
These voters believed they mistakenly
voted for Pat Buchanan...
I want my vote to count.
We're gonna do everything we can
to make sure your votes get counted.
That's why we're here.
I feel like I'm stuck in
"The night of the Living Bubbies."
Just stay calm. And whatever you do,
don't yell "Bingo!"
Yeah, I promise.
Hey, Buchanan's on TV.
I'll call you back.
...I think and believe.
And it is my belief that some
of those votes that were cast for me
probably were cast for me
mistakenly in the belief
that people were casting
their ballots for Al Gore.
Glen, new talking point...
Buchanan just went on television.
Even he says he thinks people voted for
him thinking they were voting for Gore.
Write it up. Get it to me as an email.
Reverend Jesse Jackson
led a march of democrats
and unhappy voters
through West Palm Beach.
At this point we do not know
who won the election
because our votes have not been counted.
Right.
It's insane.
Now all eyes on Florida watching this
recount. A team of as many as 70 people
expected in the state
within the next 24 hours,
we should note,
many of them raising questions
as to whether the Gore campaign
will try to sway...
The undervotes and the overvotes
on a precinct level and...
Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary.
This is everyone...
five lawyers and Joe Allbaugh?
Tell Austin I want operatives, P.R.
- and volunteers down here immediately.
- Got it.
They have Jesse Jackson
down there in Palm Beach
holding hands with those old jewish
folks screaming, "Count all the votes!"
Who the hell is gonna argue with that?
I'm guessing that Mr. Jackson is going
to keep his "hymietown" comments
down to a minimum this time around.
I want our protestors down there
in Palm Beach, Tallahassee and Miami...
Call Roger Stone...
Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa.
Karl wants protestors
outside of Gore's home.
There you go.
Now listen, people,
this is a street fight
for the presidency of the United States.
I'm told they have a well-oiled
operation just waitin' to clobber us.
It ain't gonna get
more political than this.
We want to proceed as if this
is a proper legal process,
not a political street fight.
Gore wants to pull Jesse Jackson
out of Florida as quickly as possible.
When I spoke to the Vice President
he said he wanted to fight this
with every possible...
There is concern
that protestors might diminish
what should be an orderly process.
If a fight broke out and,
let's say, the police overreacted...
Even worse, a riot...
No one wants that.
Chaos will not help our cause.
Okay, I'll ask Donna
to talk to Jesse Jackson.
Our attorneys at Holland & Knight...
I thought we had negotiated their fee.
We had, but they suddenly discovered
a conflict of interest. Mitch?
It's pretty simple. Jeb Bush doles out
a lot of business in this state.
His chief counsel has made clear
the consequences
of taking us on as a client.
So there is not one major law firm
in Florida that will represent Al Gore.
This is already a mess.
Our first step should be exploring
this butterfly ballot situation.
The ballot was designed by a democrat
and approved by the democrats
in Palm Beach before election day.
They don't have a leg to stand on.
I went through a ballot configuration
dispute on the Connie Mack recount...
There are no legal remedies.
The constitution says
presidential elections
must be held on a single day
throughout the nation.
There isn't a court in the state
that would be crazy enough
to grant them a revote.
Looks like Chris won't be able
to negotiate his way out of this one.
I'm sure Jim will want to negotiate
a fair method to settle this affair.
Some Palm Beach groups
have already filed lawsuits.
- I think we should join them.
- No, we don't want to go to court.
But if we're pursuing this as a legal
process and not a political fight,
as Chris said,
then we're gonna have to file lawsuits.
Gore doesn't want to send the message
that he's suing to be
President of the United States.
Absolutely no lawsuits.
I want to file a lawsuit in
Federal Court as quickly as possible.
It'd get thrown out immediately.
You bet,
but I want us on track
for the U.S. Supreme Court.
I don't think they'd even hear it.
And we'd get crucified by our own people
for pushing a state issue
into Federal Court.
Well, that's right,
but as some of you may know,
I love to cull turkeys in the spring,
as did Lawton Chiles, the former
governor of the great state of Florida,
though I contend I was the better shot.
Now there's no love lost
between Chiles and the Bush family
ever since that dirty campaign
he fought against Jebbie in '94,
but I always liked Lawton
and every year before he passed on
we would have ourselves a pleasant time
culling turkeys in the Spring.
- Could I have another soda, please?
- Right away, sir.
Now as two-time governor,
Chiles appointed six of the 7 justices
on the Florida Supreme Court.
And I can tell you positively
they are the most flaming liberals
in the entire goddamn state.
If we end up in the Florida
Supreme Court, we're dead.
Now the U.S. Supreme Court
may be a long shot,
but Florida is a no shot.
Now we can sit here drinking tea
and discussing the virtues of federalism
or we can start throwing punches.
And yes, we'll take a hit in the op-eds,
but until this is over
I don't want to see
a copy of "The New York Times"
unless it's to wrap garbage.
Johnny Apple says that
we have a week to resolve this
before the American people
will lose their patience.
I think we need to heed his advice.
I think we need
to discuss hand recounts.
If we're trailing at the end
of the machine recount,
we're gonna have to request
a full statewide hand recount.
You guys are dreaming.
It's not gonna happen,
- not in Florida.
- Why not?
'Cause their election laws
are completely ass backwards.
There's no mechanism
to ask for a statewide recount.
You have to go to each individual
county. That's 67 separate hearings.
Jesus, Bill, it's recount theory 101...
If you're behind, you demand recounts,
as many ballots as possible.
Okay, all right,
say by some sort of miracle
we get all the counties to agree.
- How long do you think it will take?
- Two to four weeks.
The certification deadline
is in six days.
Look, if at the end of a machine
recount we're trailing by 4,000 votes,
then we all should pack our bags, but
at the moment we're only down by 1,800.
After winning
the national popular vote by 500,000.
Lawton Chiles doesn't run
this state anymore, Ron.
They control everything.
The Governor's his brother.
Katherine Harris is co-chair of the Bush
Florida campaign, for Christ's sake.
The entire legislature is republican.
What about some partial recounts,
just a couple of counties?
- It is not gonna work.
- Wait a minute. Palm Beach and Volusia
were the main source
of problems on election day.
We'd be justified in asking
for recounts those two counties.
All three member the Palm Beach
canvassing board are democrats.
They'll probably agree
to a hand recount.
We've got to start punching, Chris.
The Bush brothers are not gonna be
so interested in a dignified process.
That may be true,
but the world is watching.
We are theoretically
its last great democracy.
If we cannot resolve this in a way
that is worthy of the office we seek,
what kind of hope do we give other
countries that wish to share our values?
Jesus.
"Last great democracy"?
- Come on, don't start.
- You gotta fuckin' be kiddin' me.
I love Warren Christopher,
but I think the guy's so tight
he probably eats his M&Ms
with a knife and a fork.
Listen, there's a giant scoreboard
out there.
We can't play a gentleman's game
or we're gonna lose.
Whoever has the ball
when the clock runs out
- is gonna be declared the winner.
- Gore also wants to win.
He just doesn't want to set
the constitution on fire to do it.
Right now we're down by less
than 2,000 votes.
Meanwhile, there's 175,000 ballots
out there that the counting machines
have declared non-votes.
- So that's 175,000 uncounted ballots.
- How does a thing like that happen?
Because punch-card ballots are fucked,
okay? They're primitive.
You got cardboard chad
that get punched but don't go
all the way through the holes
- so they're hanging off the ballot.
- Hanging chads?
Chad.
What?
There's no "s."
The plural of chad is chad?
- "The last great democracy".
- Jesus.
So when you take these ballots
and put them through
the tabulating system, what happens is
the hanging chad get pushed back
into the holes.
And the machines read it as if
the holes were never actually punched
so then these are discarded
as "undervotes."
But wait,
sometimes hanging chad don't even hang,
- they're just dimpled.
- Dimpled?
Which means that the voter didn't align
the ballot properly in the machine
or just didn't push hard enough
to get the chad to go through.
How hard is it to punch a paper ballot?
It's pretty goddamn hard
when you're 80-something years old,
you're arthritic and blind
as a fucking bat.
Unfortunately for us, blind fucking bats
tend to vote democratic.
Not to mention the fact
that the votomatics sometimes
don't get cleaned out
for years and years.
So they can get completely jammed up
with chads...
- "Chad."
- And the next...
Sorry.
The next thing you know, it's impossible
for the voter to penetrate it at all.
So you just end up with dimpled chad.
This tends to happen in poorer
neighborhoods where they don't have
up-to-date, brand-new voting equipment.
And I don't have to tell you
who those people,
vote for, okay?
All I'm saying, Ron, is
we have to have actual live human beings
doing this recount.
What about Chris and Daley?
They don't want a hand recount.
You know what? I get it.
I get it, okay? I do.
When this is over, you can go back
to Warren Christopher's law firm.
Listen.
But right now fuck it...
You gotta get these guys to agree
to get a hand recount.
Listen, everybody feels the same way
about what happened to you
with the campaign, okay?
But Gore went with Coelho
because he knew Tony was a fighter.
And Tony proved it
when he pushed you out. All right?
Now it's time to prove to Al Gore who
the real Ron fucking Klain really is.
It's time to show Al Gore
that Ron Klain is a fucking brawler
and that's he not gonna back down
from this particular fucking fight.
Anyone ever tell you
you say "fuck" a lot?
Six counties have been reviewed so far.
The total for Governor Bush...
That's an increase of 18 votes for him.
Yes,
I'm looking at your final tallies here,
and apparently you did not actually run
the ballots through the machine again.
We have our own standards
for a machine recount here.
That may be,
but you are supposed to put the ballots
through the machine a second time.
Hello, it's Clay Roberts here.
I'm sorry I had to call you back.
Things are very busy,
as you might imagine.
Hi, Mr. Roberts.
Yes, you must put the ballots through
the machine a second time.
Otherwise, you technically
did not conduct a recount.
We rechecked the memory cards,
and as far as I'm concerned,
that's all we're required to do.
I sent out guidelines
for a machine recount procedure
several months ago...
Mr. Roberts, we're just going to
retabulate the memory cards.
Thank you for calling.
The world is watching us, Jim.
This is a tremendous opportunity
to show how a nation of our power
can resolve a conflict as great as this
through diplomacy and compromise.
Compromise?
I thought we were here
to discuss scheduling.
Well, yes,
but it was my feeling that
we should be able to agree on a method
to settle this matter.
There's nothing to settle.
If we're ahead at the completion
of this machine recount
our position is this...
Governor Bush has won the election;
Katherine Harris will certify
the election.
No negotiations, no compromises,
no extensions.
Bush is President.
I go home. End of story.
It's always great to see you, Jim.
And you, Chris.
That's it?
For the present.
- You've got to be kidding.
- What did you think was gonna happen?
A bit of a fight.
It is brass-knuckle time, Chris.
It's time to take off the gloves
and I know Gore feels exactly
the same way.
He says it in every conference call.
He wants to fight.
We may be ill-equipped to fight.
We're working out of a strip mall.
And I'm worried about his future.
He's a young man. He can run again,
but not if he destroys his career
with a prolonged legal battle.
But the fight is here, it's now.
Look,
Berger's moving us into
his law firm tomorrow.
Whouley's setting up a base
in Ft. Lauderdale,
and we've still got five more days
before the 14th.
I agree that there is a battle
to be had,
but we must also remember
there is no shame
in placing country above party.
Chris,
you've been a mentor to me
and I will forever be grateful
to you for that,
But I...
I can't do it like this.
We may well have won this election,
Chris.
And we owe it to this country
to find out the truth.
- Guys.
- What?
The numbers are in on
the machine recount. You gotta see this.
All the counties in Florida have
now finished their initial recount,
and according
to the Associated Press's numbers,
George W. Bush
leads Al Gore in that state
by 327 votes.
Holy shit!
All right, Mr. Klain, all right.
We'll fight to count the two counties.
I want four.
We agreed on two.
I want to add Broward and Miami-Dade.
They're chock-full
of democratic undervotes.
We won't be able to finish before
Miss Harris's certification deadline.
It's physically impossible
for all four counties
to finish a hand recount
in five days.
If we get ahead of Bush,
it will change the entire game.
She'll have to extend the deadline.
But we've got to get ahead first.
We need to start placing
pressure on her.
There's no logical reason for her
not to extend the deadline
until all the votes have been counted.
The democrats in Florida,
with the presidency at stake,
are asking for a so-called hand count
in four democratic counties.
How in the world can
a cheap politician say,
"I know this guy intended to vote
for Gore
"even though he didn't punch
through the ballot"?
But Bob, first of all, this process
is specifically authorized
by Florida election law.
Maybe we should ask for recounts too,
but from Republican-leaning counties
to offset any gains they make.
Hell no.
Why do we need a recount?
We already won.
They gave up all their moral high ground
when they only requested recounts
in the four most liberal counties
in the state.
Al Gore is not interested
in counting all the votes.
He's only interested in counting
Al Gore votes.
Al Gore is not interested
in counting all the votes.
He's only interested in counting
Al Gore votes.
That's why he's cherry-picking votes
from the four most liberal counties
in the state.
Now the votes have been counted
and recounted
and in every case,
George Bush is the winner.
Hand recounts are chaotic.
They're unreliable
and they lead to mischief.
That's why we've moved on to machines.
Katherine?
Katherine, there's a problem.
actually run their ballots
through the machines again.
They mostly did some sort of
retabulation of the memory cards.
That means that 1.5 million ballots
weren't actually recounted.
I think we need to be very quiet
about this...
Is somebody in my office?
It's Clay.
You never know
where life is going to lead you, Clay.
I was just thinking, 10 years ago
I was teaching the chicken dance
to seniors.
And now I've been thrust
into an electoral tempest
of historical dimensions.
And the eyes of the world
have landed on me.
The law states
that I cannot accept returns
after the certification deadline
unless... This is important...
There is some sort of natural disaster
which prevents counties
from turning in results on time,
such as a hurricane.
Secretary Harris,
Secretary Harris...
My understanding is that the law
gives you the discretion
to accept late returns for any reason,
that it's up to you.
The law says
there has to be a hurricane.
Does her makeup count as a hurricane?
No, thank you for your question.
We've all been a little confused,
glued to our TVs as well
and worried about the results
some people have been giving. Sorry.
But no,
there will be
absolutely no communication
with either campaign.
I've instructed my staff to place
a firewall around my office.
This woman is hopeless.
We're gonna need some help on this.
Vincis
vincit...
Vincimus,
vincitis,
vincunt.
Again.
Vinco,
vincis...
Come on now, you know I don't like calls
when I'm in my class.
I'm just curious, Mac,
are you gonna sit around
and parse latin verbs all day
or are you gonna get into this fight?
Quo me vis?
What the hell does that mean?
It means, "Where do you want me?"
Pink sugar.
Sorry.
Sorry, Mac.
Listen, Katherine,
most people go through their lives
never having a chance
to make a difference.
And those lucky enough
to have that chance
don't recognize it when it comes.
They think it's down the road,
or that it's going to be next year
or the year after that.
But if you're a public official
wanting to make history,
then today is your lucky day, darlin'.
You're about to pick
the leader of the free world.
Don't you worry, Mac.
It's going to take a lot more
than David Letterman
making fun of my hair
and makeup to knock me down.
That is exactly why I backed
your campaign when everyone else
ran over to Mortham...
Because you are a woman of action.
A woman of action, like Queen Esther.
Queen Esther?
I have been reading
my bible quite a bit here lately,
and I have been feeling
this unusually strong kinship
with Queen Esther.
You recall Queen Esther...
She was willing to sacrifice herself
to save the lovely jewish people.
And that's exactly
what I'm doing right now.
And if I perish,
I perish.
You have to stay strong, Katherine.
The world needs to see
that Katherine Harris is in charge.
You need to bring
this election in for a landing.
Yeah.
Bring it in for a landing?
Bring it in for a landing
with George W. Bush in the cockpit.
They're going to ask for extensions,
for negotiations, for recounts.
We don't have
to let that happen, Katherine.
Under the law,
when is a hand recount allowed
and when would it be denied?
It says, "Hand recounts are allowed
"if there is an error in vote tabulation
"which could affect
the outcome of an election."
- It's vague.
- No, it's really vague.
The key then is interpreting what
"error in vote tabulation" means, right?
If there are ballots that the machine
did not count for whatever reason,
then that would be
an "error in vote tabulation".
Just the existence of uncounted ballots
justifies a hand recount, right?
Our position has got
to be that "error in vote tabulation"
means how the systems tabulated them.
So the only way
a hand recount can proceed
is if the hardware
or the software broke down.
If there is no systems error,
then they cannot conduct a hand recount.
Listen, Kerey,
the election statutes are confusing.
We need you to go down
to Palm Beach County
and offer them some guidance.
We have very little authority
over the canvassing boards...
Unless they request an advisory opinion.
Sure thing, Clay.
Live from Palm Beach.
With three days left
till the certification deadline
Palm Beach county
will hand-recount 1% of their votes.
And based on
the results of this 1% recount,
the canvassing board will then decide
if they are to hand-recount
the remaing 99% of their ballots.
- That's exactly the reason...
- Can we please count the votes that
- we have in the boxes?
- Excuse me.
Judge Burton?
- Yes, can I help you?
- Hi, I'm Kerey Carpenter, DOE.
Thank God.
This is a nightmare.
We're under a microscope here.
The laws are vague
and they contradic each other...
- Dimple, no dimples, sunshine standard.
- I know.
The division's position is that
dimpled chads should not be counted.
Ultimately, though,
it's the canvassing board's decision.
You just need to remember
that whatever you decide,
you're going to have
to testify about it someday.
Listen, we can't offer help unsolicited,
and you'll have to resolve
the dimple issue on your own,
but the state can offer clear guidance
on almost everything else.
- Really?
- Yeah.
All you have to do
is ask us for an advisory opinion.
"Dear Judge Burton, this is in response
to your request
for an advisory opinion.
"A 'vote tabulation error'
"is an error in which
the vote tabulation system fails.
"Since no such error has occurred,
county canvassing boards
"are not authorized
to hand-recount their ballots.
"Sincerely yours, L. Clayton Roberts,
Director of elections."
- What are Chris and Daley thinking?
- Daley's gone back to D.C.
We're getting pressure from our people
to concede. He's going to the hill
and shove the democrats back in line.
That's not gonna make any difference
if we don't deal with this AO.
Wait a minute, why don't we get
our own damn advisory opinion?
"Dear Judge Burton,
"since the DOE's advisory opinion
is so clearly at variance
"with the existing Florida law,
I am issuing this advisory opinion..."
The Palm Beach canvassing board
is listening to arguments
from both parties
on how to proceed
with two conflicting advisory opinions.
The ballots punched
for both Gore and Buchanan
counted in the 1% recount
show that the butterfly ballot
cost Al Gore a minimum
of 6,000 votes!
Under these circumstances,
we feel Palm Beach County
must proceed with the hand recount.
I represent the people
of Palm Beach County,
and I believe
that hand-recounting our ballots
is the only way to find out
who won this election.
The Secretary of State has told you
that you cannot hold
a hand recount.
It would be illegal for you
to disobey her advisory opinion.
What happens?
Do we go to jail?
Because I am willing to go to jail.
All right, we'll have a vote.
All those in favor
of suspending the recount
until we have received
further clarification?
Aye.
Aye.
All those opposed
to suspending the recount?
Nay.
All right, the motion carries,
two to one.
The canvassing board has voted
to suspend the recount.
They've gotten an opinion
from the director of elections...
The Secretary of State. Her opinion
is that because there is no error
in vote tabulating system...
There's nothing wrong
with the equipment...
This "tabulation systems"
they've come up with
is complete bullshit, Chris.
It is...
Thank you.
It has never been interpreted this way
in the history of Florida law.
They made it up two days ago.
If we don't take Katherine Harris
to court right now, it's killing us.
We've got to get this count up
and running again.
I'm afraid I have some bad news.
- Chris is going back to L.A.?
- His daughter is sick.
I don't blame him for bailing.
This whole thing is rather hopeless.
And with Daley gone it means there
isn't a senior Gore campaign official
in the entire state
of Florida right now.
Bob Dole beat Bill Clinton in 1996.
- So what do you gonna do?
- Honey, you gotta turn on "SNL."
It's on right now.
Bush took himself out of the Florida
recount process noting,
"Look, I already threw out
"and confused the old jews.
My work here is done."
That's good.
Honey, if you want to leave,
no one would blame you.
No, Monica, I'm not going
anywhere, and you know why?
Because I think Gore won this thing,
and I think he thinks so too.
He's like a changed guy.
He's got this fire in him now,
like before the campaign even started.
He's even started calling me back.
- I'll have to call you back, honey.
- Okay.
What the hell
are you doing in Tallahassee?
Early Hanukkah gift.
- Good morning, team.
- Good morning.
I want to read you
something very interesting
from another state's election code,
courtesy of Mr. Whouley.
"A hand recount shall be conducted
in preference
"to a machine recount."
It also says that dimpled chads
should be included in any hand recount.
That's great, Ron, but we can't use
another state's election code.
I know we can't,
but what if that state is Texas
and it was signed into law
by its current governor,
George W. Bush?
Yes! All right, pass those out.
This is talking point number one.
Point two...
Donna Brazile is down in D.C.
following up on allegations
of black-voter suppression.
Jeremy is gonna hit the streets
on that same issue.
And point three...
As you can see,
we've got some new lawyers in town.
I'd like to introduce
my former colleague
at the Justice Department,
Jeff Robinson.
Thanks, Ron.
It's great to be on the team.
I've started with the difference between
optiscan and punchcard ballots.
The punchcard failure rate
is double that of optiscans.
And of course minority neighborhoods
get stuck with the punchcards.
I am shocked.
And, everyone, this is Mark Herron,
a Florida election law specialist.
He's going to write a memo
detailing exact standards
by which absentee ballots
can be counted. It's my gut feeling
that some of these were sent
after election day.
- And maybe more than just a few.
- I think so too.
And you should also know
that Mark's law firm has fired him
- for coming onboard with us.
- On his birthday.
Another piece of decent news...
Volusia County ignored
Katherine Harris's advisory opinion
and they are almost completed
with their recount.
We should pick up about 100 votes there.
The bad news is that Madam Secretary
is insisting on her deadline...
Unless, of course, there is a hurricane.
Which means that it's gonna be
impossible for the counties
to complete their recounts in time.
So our strategy is two fold:
one... we continue to insist
that hand recounts are legal;
and two... we argue that
regardless of any deadline
every votes has a right to be counted.
Where do we argue? On C.N.N.?
Volusia County is going to sue Katherine
Harris to accept their late returns
and we are going to join that lawsuit.
I thought Gore was against lawsuits.
I spoke to the Vice President
and he says
since Bush is dragging our ass
into Federal Court,
we can drag his ass into state court.
And this is Volusia County,
everything about it.
Get busy, boys and girls.
I gotta call The New York Times.
Thank you.
Looks like Christopher just joined
the lawsuit to extend the deadline.
Christopher went back to L.A.
Ron Klain is running Tallahassee now.
- Who's Ron klain?
- Gore's former chief of staff.
Former?
Can someone please explain this to me?
I don't care what Judge Burton says.
If he doesn't count dimpled chads,
we're gonna take him to court...
Baker on line one.
I gotta call you back.
What can I do for you, Mr. Baker?
I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Klain,
but I was surprised to hear
you joined Volusia County's lawsuit.
Well, I figured that was the easiest way
to get your autograph, sir.
Unfortunately, Mr. Klain,
I shall not be attending the hearing.
That is a shame, sir,
because I was going to put you
right between my Sandy Koufax
and my Spiro Agnew.
I was sad to hear that Secretary Daley
and Secretary Christopher
left Tallahassee.
Will you be leaving too?
No, sir, I'll be here until
the Vice President fires me again.
Then I should tell you you're probably
gonna lose tomorrow.
That's certainly one
of two possibilities.
All right, Mr. Klain.
I just wanted to say hello.
You call back anytime, Mr. Baker.
He's gloating.
He thinks we're gonna lose tomorrow.
I think we're gonna lose tomorrow.
We are gonna lose tomorrow.
All right, so who's the best
appellate lawyer in this country?
And if you're just joing us, to recap
the major news of the day...
A Florida judge, Terry Lewis, coming out
about an hour and a half ago
and through a statement
read by a spokesperson saying that
the State of Florida does not have
to accept those manual hand recounts
currently taking place
in Broward and Palm Beach County
- and in other counties that might be...
- Ron Klain's on the phone for you.
And if she believes it's the best thing
for the State of Florida...
Hi, Ron, to what do I owe this pleasure?
This is not a final setback, but a
big blow for the democrats and Al Gore.
Mr. Boies...
- Yes, ma'am.
- Now that the deadline is here
and the absentee ballots have pushed
Bush's lead to around 900 votes,
is Gore going to change his strategy?
The strategy is the same. Al Gore
is just trying to get votes counted.
The very fact that Katherine Harris
wasn't willing to accept ballots
counted after the deadline,
even though all the absentee ballots
hadn't arrived yet
makes it crystal clear that
she's trying to do everything she can
to stop new votes from being counted.
What do you think?
- He's tough.
- You have to be tougher.
David Boies can destroy a witness
and make you think
he's a great guy while he's doing it.
His 20-hour Bill Gates
deposition is already legendary.
I heard he never uses notes.
He's dyslexic,
so he has to memorize everything.
Let me be clear...
Judge Lewis's decision isn't the
triumphant victory for Katherine Harris
that her people are claiming.
She stated that she can't accept ballots
counted after the deadline
unless there was a hurricane
and Judge Lewis said
that this was incorrect,
that regardless of the weather,
the law clearly states
that she can accept late ballots,
that it's her decision.
And if she wants
to reject legally counted votes,
she has to come up with
an actual reason for doing so.
Shouldn't I just ignore
Judge Lewis and certify tonight?
- No, Katherine.
- This deadline is in a few hours.
Katherine, this is a court order.
- You must obey it.
- He's right, Katherine.
The judge said you have to come up
with a reason to reject late ballots,
so we have to come up with a reason...
You know, something that shows
you didn't just reject them arbitrarily.
Why don't I just ask the counties
to tell me why
I should give them more time?
Shit, Katherine, that's good.
We just ask 'em.
I like it.
In accordance with
Judge Terry Lewis's ruling,
I have sent a letter to the counties
asking them to explain why I should
allow ballots counted
after the deadline
to be included in the final tallies.
The counties must respond in writing
by 2:00 tomorrow.
On the advice of legal counsel,
I won't be answering any questions.
- You need to tell us what's going on.
- We need to know the truth.
...has been made fun of
on "Saturday Night Live,"
a lot of ridicule. Time Magazine
referred to her as Cruella de Vil...
After careful consideration,
I am denying the counties' requests
to include ballots
counted after the deadline.
The final tallies will be certified
tomorrow evening.
On the advice of our legal counsel,
I won't be answering any questions.
Well, that's not surprising.
So do we try to get the Florida Supreme
Court to stop her from certifying?
I don't think they'll grant us a stay.
The Florida Supreme Court just issued
a stay to stop the certification.
- Are you kidding me?
- No, I'm not.
And get this...
Al Gore didn't even ask for one.
The Florida Supreme just went on
ahead and gave it to him.
All right, people, listen up.
We got ourselves a fired chief of staff,
a lawyer who can't read his notes
and seven Florida justices to face,
who I may have mentioned... I'm not sure
if I did... Are all liberal democrats.
I think it's time for our supporters
to exercise
their first amendment rights.
- If Gore does not receive the ruling...
- Katherine Harris claims that
ballots counted after the deadline
cannot be included...
Gore-inch,
make sure you hold that sign up high.
Exactly.
Gore-nac, this is your bit.
Hold that up to your head and say,
- "I call this vote..."
- I call this vote for Gore!
Gore is a crybaby.
I want a recount!
Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw
have bald spots!
Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw
have bald spots!
The Gore campaign says further
legal actions are still on the table,
but officials privately concede
an adverse ruling
from the state supreme court
would deal a fatal blow
to the Gore campaign.
At the completion
of the machine recount,
the difference between
the two candidates was 327 votes.
Under Florida law, the trailing
candidate in a race this close
is entitled to request hand recounts
in individual counties.
If they had completed the recount by
the deadline, there would be no issue.
Unfortunately, they did not.
Therefore the recount cannot continue.
Who knows how many votes
could've been counted
had Katherine Harris
not mistakenly claimed
there had to be an error in the system?
The Secretary of State
was just following the law.
We implore the court to set
specific counting guidelines.
Voters are supposed
to follow instructions
that are inside
each and every voting booth.
They clearly state
that the ballot must be punched
through completely.
Dimpled chads must be included
in this standard
because they represent a voter's intent.
These issues of dimples
and chads are exactly why
we believe hand recounts
are inherently flawed.
Doesn't the current process in Texas,
signed into law by your client,
state that hand recounts
are preferred over machines,
and dimpled chads should be counted?
I really don't know what Texas law is.
Good evening.
My name is Craig Waters.
I'm going to read the ruling
that was issued by this court.
The Florida Supreme Court,
in its unanimous opinion,
has reversed the circuit court ruling.
Ron, Ron, Ron.
Are you okay? I'm so sorry.
- No, we won.
- I know, but...
We won!
It doesn't matter. We won.
- It does matter.
- I'm so sorry.
The counties are to hand-recount
their ballots,
and to achieve this goal, the final
totals must be accepted by 5:00 p.m.,
November 26.
- They have five more days.
- They just gave Gore the steal sign.
To disenfranchise electors,
as Katherine Harris proposes,
is unreasonable,
unnecessary and violates
long-standing law.
That is a personal attack.
Is this normal?
To reiterate,
there will be two counters
at each table,
containing one member
of each political party.
Disputed ballots will be referred
to the canvassing board.
Now one republican and
one democratic representative
will be observing the counters
and will be allowed
to speak to those counters.
Contested ballots will then be referred
to the canvassing board
for final review.
- There's a small victory here.
- What's that?
They didn't set counting standards.
- We can still fight dimpled chads.
- Dimpled chads is good,
but the real question is
what would happen
if they didn't finish in five days?
I object to the ballot on the grounds it
is not in the guidelines and criteria...
That ballot does not conform
to the 1990 standards.
Bending the ballot can cause chad
to improperly fall from the ballot.
- Gimme a break.
- You can't be serious!
Number five, Gore.
I object to that vote on several counts.
- Number one, it's not...
- Your honor,
he is intentionally trying
to slow down the recount.
Got a five here, definitely a five.
This ballot does not have
two corners detached.
- This woman is eating the chads.
- That's ridiculous.
- I object.
- I object to the ballot.
- I object.
- I object.
A dimpled five. No-vote.
Dimple, number five. No-vote.
That dimple shows clear intent for Gore.
Chads don't indent themselves.
Someone was trying to vote
and Miami-Dade and Broward
are both counting dimpled chads.
Broward changed their standard
in the middle of the recount.
It was biased, unethical and unfair.
Gentlemen, there will be
no more discussion of the standard.
Palm Beach will not be counting
dimpled chads.
What the hell is he doing? He's
literally throwing people's votes away.
Whouley says this will cost us
around 800 votes.
Look at this idiot.
Wait till you see this.
The hand-counting of the ballots
that is ongoing is becoming
completely untrustworthy.
Ballots have been used as fans.
Ballots have post-it notes
stuck to them.
God damn it!
An elderly counter
dropped 20 to 60 ballots.
You have a 70-year-old man
at 2:00 a.m. in the morning...
How can he say it's fraud?
There's television cameras everywhere.
There's observers from both parties.
They're working under
a goddamn bell jar.
Any response to these allegations?
This characterization of hand recounts
as chaotic and unreliable
is an attempt to discredit
and delay the process
so that we'll miss the new deadline.
They're not counting votes.
They're casting votes.
They're deciding somebody
based on something
meant to vote for someone.
The republicans are the ones
that are creating the chaos,
and they're doing it to prevent
the votes from being counted.
The ballots being looked
at here today have been counted.
They're been recounted.
And this process
of once again recounting
is prone to human error.
It's prone to mischief...
Carol, Carol, you need to see this.
It's all over the internet.
Should we release a denial?
I really don't care
if people think I'm a lesbian.
I just don't want them to think
Suzanne is the best I could do.
Theresa, are you all right?
The election supervisor, she's had
police protection for the last few days.
And Carol Roberts has gotten
nearly 30 death threats.
Certainly, the issues here...
- No-vote.
- Fall squarely on these three people.
- No-vote.
- Objection.
Of course, of course.
No-vote.
Since Broward and Miami-Dade
are counting dimpled chads
and Palm Beach is not,
we can claim the recount
violates the equal protection clause
because all ballots aren't being
evaluated with the same standard.
Rehnquist and Scalia won't go for it.
They've rarely ever ruled
for an equal protection violation.
We'd have to find a victim.
The law is designed
to prevent minorities
from having their voting rights
taken away.
The victims are the people whose votes
were disqualified in one county,
when the exact same vote
would've been counted in another.
I kind of like it.
Maybe Scalia and Thomas
will discover their inner liberal.
I'm sorry to interrupt,
but I wasn't sure
if you could smell this.
What is it?
The pile of shit
Al Gore just stepped in.
He's trying to throw out
military ballots.
It's called the Herron memo.
My memo does not target military votes,
Senator Lieberman.
It states the exact standards
that all overseas absentee ballots
must meet in order to be counted.
These are ballots without postmarks,
without witness signatures or dates.
There's no way to tell
if they were sent after election day.
Thus they shouldn't be counted.
I was told that military ballots
without postmarks are common
because soldiers on tankers
usually can't get postmarks.
That's correct, sir,
which is why the memo also states
if a ballot is signed and
dated on or before election day,
this would count the same as a postmark.
I'm not pulling this out of thin air,
sir. This is what the law says.
This is the same issue the republicans
were complaing about last week
when they were worried
about absentee ballots from Israel.
They held a press conference,
sir, in which they said
if absentee ballots
are not properly postmarked
they should not be counted.
That's their line.
That's our line.
Nothing should change, sir.
- All right, I got it.
- Thank you very much.
So democratic lawyers
should drop any objections
to overseas ballots
from armed services personnel?
I think the problem here...
My own point of view, if I was there,
I would give the benefit of the doubt
to ballots coming in
from military personnel...
- God damn it!
- Particularly in light of the letter
and the kind of statements
we've heard about that.
- But the problem here is...
- Mark, I'm sorry.
I apologize. I...
- apologize to everyone.
- It's not your fault, Mark.
If they have the capacity, I'd urge them
to go back and take another look.
- Ron, Daley is on line two.
- Of course he is.
Gore is going ballistic.
What the hell just happened?
I think Joe Lieberman just
entered the 2004 primaries.
The wise Senator Lieberman
says we should take another look
at these military ballots and
I see no reason not
to follow his sage advice.
I want to go back to every
military county in the state to fight
to get these ballots counted.
I'm talking Escambia,
Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Pasco.
They've had what I would call
a break in the ranks, people.
- Let's get on it.
- Yes, sir.
Hell's bells, folks,
their own vice presidential candidate
has stated these ballots
should not be discarded.
I think that speaks volumes. Don't you?
But this ballot does not have a postmark
or a witness signature and no date.
Therefore it's impossible to prove
that it wasn't sent after election day
and it shouldn't be counted.
Your Honor,
if a member of our military gets shot,
that bullet won't have
a postmark on it either.
I'll count it.
Thank you, Joe Lieberman.
- May I help you?
- Are you Mr. Willie Whiting?
I'm Pastor Whiting.
Pastor Whiting.
My name is Jeremy Bash.
I work for the democratic party.
I understand you were turned away
from the polls on election day.
Yeah, I was.
Do you have a minute to talk?
What's going on?
This is the official voter purge list.
What's that?
The reason people were turned away
from the polls on election day.
These people were scrubbed
from the voter rolls
because they were supposed
to be convicted felons.
But there are a ton
of people on this list
that never committed
a crime in their lives.
- How does a thing like that happen?
- The Secretary of State's office
paid database technologies $4.3 million
to compile a list of convicted felons
who according to Florida law
would not be allowed to vote.
And then they instructed D.B.T.
to, quote,
"Capture more names
that possibly aren't matches."
This is an actual
e-mail from her office.
So the list is comprised of felons
and anyone whose name happens
to be similar to a felon.
I met Willie D. Whiting. He is a pastor,
but his name is similar
to Willie J. Whiting,
so he was told he couldn't vote.
The supervisor in Leon County
went through his purge list
person by person.
And of the 697 names
that the state gave him,
he found
that only 33 were actual felons.
And the supervisor in Miami-Dade,
he complained that his list
had clear mismatches, but he was told,
"Look, even if the names don't match,
go ahead, consider them felons."
Okay, so?
How many people were
illegally disqualified from voting?
Almost half of them
were African-American.
So can we do anything with this?
You can't get votes back
that were never cast.
All we can do is turn this
over to the N.A.A.C.P.
and hope that they can stop it in 2002.
Remember Elian!
Cuban-Americans are out in force
today to protest against the recount,
still enraged by Clinton's decision
to send Elian Gonzales back to Cuba.
Congressman Sweeney,
why are you here in Miami?
I'm here because Miami-Dade
has become ground zero
for producing a manufactured vote.
Dimpled number six... Gore.
Dimple six... Gore.
- Dimple six... Gore.
- I object.
Duly noted.
We're the new republican party!
We're not gonna take this anymore!
Bush won!
Bush won twice!
- Bush won twice!
- Everybody needs a t-shirt.
Let's go, pass them out!
Hello.
I just heard from our guys
in the Miami-Dade counting room.
The board decided to count undervotes
and they've moved to a backroom.
They're counting in secret.
Well, shut it down.
Number six for Gore.
Dimpled six... that's for Gore.
We want to have a small protest up
near the canvassing board.
Nobody wants to get arrested.
Nobody's gonna get hurt.
We just want to make our point.
After you've heard enough,
you can tell us to leave.
What do you think's gonna happen?
Look at the way we're dressed.
Sit in here.
You can't go in. You can't go in.
Hey, hold on. Stay back.
Punched number seven... no-vote.
- Punched number seven hole... no-vote.
- I object.
It's obvious...
Number five is for Bush,
number seven is for Gore.
These voters clearly did not insert
their ballots properly.
This is preposterous.
We can't guess who
they intended to vote for
when they punched a blank hole.
Let's get a blank ballot
and try to demonstrate this.
- Go.
- All right.
Dimpled number four... Bush.
Could I have everybody's attention?
There is a full protest out in the lobby
and I think
it could escalate out of control.
Let's keep going.
Let us in!
Cheaters, cheaters!
Hi, I'm a lawyer with the recount.
I need a sample ballot, please.
Thank you.
- He's got a ballot!
- No no, it's a sample.
He stole a ballot!
This guy...
He voted for Gore. He's a lawyer
for Gore and he's stealing a ballot!
- Settle down.
- I'm on official business.
I'm a lawyer with the recount.
Just let me by.
- Let me by.
- Stop kicking me!
Stop kicking me!
- Get away from me!
- Don't let him get away.
Leave me alone.
Stop that man!
Cheaters!
The Colonel and I
won't let you leave with that ballot.
Who the fuck is the Colonel?
He's going back! He has a ballot!
You're in big trouble, pal, all right?
Don't put your hands on me.
I'm gonna defend myself if you put
your hands on me one more time!
It's against the law.
He shoved and put his hands on me.
It's voter fraud!
Arrest him! He stole a ballot!
No justice! No peace!
Hold on.
Let us in!
We'd better take a break
until this calms down.
- That's it.
- Voter fraud!
We take Judge Burton to court,
we get the ruling we want:
he still won't count dimpled chads.
- What the hell...?
- Miami-Dade just stopped counting.
They're about to hold a hearing.
Miami-Dade? A hearing about what?
This morning I felt
we could count the undervotes
in five days,
but we are in a very different
situation than we were this morning.
A radically different situation.
I cannot sit here and tell you
that if we begin the process
that we can complete it
by the November 26th deadline.
What the hell is going on?
Why aren't they counting?
Therefore I am going
to have to vote to abandon
the Miami-Dade recount.
I object!
This is for the presidency
of the United States!
We have to at least try
to finish this recount.
Mr. Young, I would like to tell you
that we could get this done in time,
but I don't think we can.
- I'm gonna vote we stop counting.
- Yes, yes!
- I am also going to vote to stop.
- No, no, no, no. We can do this!
We can get these votes counted!
We have to get these votes counted!
A Gore lawyer Ron Klain said that a mob
stormed the counting facility
to stop the count.
That's the myth. Here are the facts.
The demonstration was noisy
and peaceful and nothing else.
There were babies in the crowd.
There were little kids there. There was,
in some ways, a holiday atmosphere.
A holiday atmosphere?
Yeah, like Bastille Day.
These kids were congressional aides
flown in on the Enron jet.
...by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Lakey and others said
that they were not intimidated.
You know, I think I might owe you
an apology for all this.
For what?
Because I'm afraid you might
end up being famous as the lawyer
- who lost Al Gore the Presidency.
- Monica's worried that if we do lose,
I'm never gonna get a job again
in law or in politics.
Me too.
- You know what's funny about all this?
- Nope.
I'm not even sure I like Al Gore.
And it really is time
to tune back the hetoric.
Thank you.
Well,
I say
whoever stops fighting
first always loses.
It's absurd.
It's completely absurd.
I'm in the middle of a recount
where the votes aren't being recounted
and nobody seems to care.
Not a single person seems to care.
You know what I'd like to know?
Who actually won this election?
Who won this fucking election?
Who won it?
Ladies and gentlemen,
unfortunately,
we will not be able to complete
the Palm Beach County
recount by today's deadline.
As you know,
the Florida SC has issued an opinion
giving us until 5:00 pm. tonight,
assuming that the Secretary of State's
office would be open on a sunday.
Now if they're not,
then we would have until 9:00 a.m.
tomorrow morning.
I have just sent a letter
to the division of elections
explaining that we are exhausting
ourselves trying to get through this.
We are requesting an extension
to that 9:00 a.m. deadline.
As we know, Katherine Harris
is interested in getting
the most accurate results possible,
so we see no reason
why the Secretary of State
should not grant our extension.
Thank you.
- I think we should let them have it.
- Are you kidding me?!
They're almost finished anyway.
Let them get done.
And then we'll accept any result
by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
God damn it, you stupid son of bitch,
we're right on the goal line here.
We are so close, Katherine.
Shut it down.
Just shut it down.
It's only a few more hours.
The Florida Supreme Court stated
that if we're open on sunday,
the returns are due at 5:00 p.m.
It's sunday. We're open.
And it's almost 5:00 p.m.
I have no choice but to follow the law.
Of course, it's your call, but I think
you're right on the money here.
Ladies and gentlemen,
after counting 460,000 ballots
with approximately
the Secretary of State has decided
to shut us down with two hours to go.
Apparently, that's how she has chosen
to exercise her discretion.
Quit it.
Good evening.
On behalf of the state elections
canvassing commission
and in accordance
with the laws of the State of Florida,
I hereby declare Governor George W. Bush
the winner of Florida's
for the President of the United States.
I wish to point out
that our american democracy
has triumphed once again
and this is a victory
in which we can all take
a great deal of pride and comfort.
The true winner in the election
is the rule of law.
- Nice touch.
- Thank you.
Classy.
and may God bless America.
...to candy crowley in Austin, Texas
where the Bush people
have to be watching this very closely
and very happily.
It may be close,
but the Secretary of State
has pronounced them the winner
and they're gonna be
hanging their hat on this.
She wishes it was over.
David Boies, the attorney
for the Gore campaign, a few hours ago
said again they will contest Nassau
and Miami-Dade for certain.
They're also gonna work on Palm Beach.
The two briefs for Miami-Dade and Nassau
expected again to be filed possibly
at 9:00 a. m. local time
here in Tallahassee.
It may slide to 10:00 a.m...
We'd like to contest the election
for the Presidency of the United States.
Please, God, let it be Nikki Clark,
judge Nikki Clark.
The wheel has given you...
judge Sanders Sauls.
The Court finds and concludes
the evidence does not establish
any illegality, dishonesty,
improper influence,
coercion or fraud in the balloting
and counting process.
Any comment on the verdict?
They won, we lost.
We're going to appeal.
Mr. Baker, reaction, please.
We are grateful that judge Sauls
has upheld the rule of law
by validating Governor Bush's victory.
It's time for the Vice President
to do the right thing
and end our national uncertainty.
I think the american people
are about ready to move on.
Perhaps Mr. Gore
might finally be ready too.
I want to fight this thing as long as
we've even got a glimmer, Ron,
but the country is already so divided.
I wonder when ending this
is the right thing to do.
I believe we end this thing
when all the votes
have been counted
and we know who really won. Or...
When you can't win
even if you won.
I'm really glad
we're working together again, Ron.
Me too, Mr. Vice President.
Me too.
- Good luck in court tomorrow.
- Have a good night, sir.
- I'll speak to you tomorrow.
- Bye.
Today's showdown in Florida's
Supreme Court is critical,
especially for Al Gore.
While he trails George W. Bush
by 930 votes in Florida's official
but uncertified vote tally,
today's decision
may make or break Gore's fight
for the Presidency.
So someone who
lost by 130,000 votes in Dade County
would say, "we want a recount,"
and then we would have to have
the Court recount all those votes too?
We have pinpointed 215 votes
in Palm Beach,
so we know that if you look at ballots,
you can find intent
where a machine could not.
Sir, would you like a bulletproof vest?
No, thank you.
Good afternoon.
My name is Craig Waters.
The Florida Supreme Court today
has issued its ruling
in the case of Albert Gore, Jr.
v. Katherine Harris.
In the contest brief,
Vice President Gore requested
that Miami-Dade
complete its aborted recount
and for Palm Beach
to recount their ballots
with a standard
that includes dimpled chads.
He also requested the inclusion
of 168 votes from Miami-Dade,
and 51 votes from Nassau
all counted during the protest phase,
but not included
in the final certification.
All right, come on, send me home.
In its four-to-three ruling,
the Court rejects Gore's request
to recount Palm Beach County.
The Court also rejects the inclusion
of the 51 votes from Nassau County.
However, the Court
does order the inclusion
of the 215 legal votes in Palm Beach...
What?
...and the 168 legal
votes in Miami-Dade.
- The Court also orders an immediate
- We're down 154 votes!
hand recount of the 9,000
uncounted undervotes
in Miami-Dade.
They can't do this.
In addition,
the Court orders
a hand recount of all
uncounted undervotes
in the entire State of Florida.
Fantastic.
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
The recount is to proceed immediately
and must be completed by December 12th.
December 12th... three days.
We have three days!
We can do it.
Three more days.
They're going to count the whole state.
Thanks to you.
...obviously what happens here
is the V.P
lives to fight another day.
But he's got several more big fights...
get me Gore.
As many as 58 counties are going back
to the ballot boxes recounting
so-called undervotes
by order of the state Supreme Court.
More than 40,000 ballots are in play.
The Leon County judge charged
with organizing the effort
has set a target deadline
of 2:00 p.m. eastern, sunday,
for the recount to be complete.
The Illinois senate democrat
Dick Durbin,
reacting to the Florida Supreme
Court's victory for Al Gore, quote...
"two strikes, two outs
in the bottom of the ninth,
"and Gore gets a hit"
Unquote.
We know that spokesman Craig Waters
at one point in his statement...
I want to request an immediate stay
in the U.S. Supreme Court
to stop the recount.
We have to prove "irreparable harm".
On what grounds would the counting
of votes cause irreparable harm to Bush?
Well, how about the fact
that the Florida supremes
just gave Al Gore a statewide recount,
and he didn't even ask for one?
They're not even trying
to appear to be fair.
That's true,
but it doesn't prove irreparable harm.
Wait a minute,
did you look at justice Wells's dissent?
I have a deep and abiding concern
that the prolonging
of the judicial process
propels this state and this country
into an unprecedented
and unnecessary constitutional crisis.
If this election is not resolved
by December 12th,
a very interesting scenario arises.
According to the electoral
count act of 1887,
if an election is not resolved
by december 12th,
then statelegislators can decide
who to award
their state's electoral votes to.
Wait a minute,
the Florida legislature could award
its 25 electoral votes to Bush,
no matter what the results
of the recount?
My people have talked
to several constitutional scholars
and they all agree it would be a legal
interpretation of the constitution.
We're calling it
the "nuclear bomb" option.
If this election is not resolved
by the safe-harbor deadline
of December 12th,
then it is the legislators'
duty to ensure
that Florida's 25 electoral votes
are not placed in jeopardy.
- Mr. Speaker!
- Yes.
Any validity to allegations
you're coordinating your efforts
with Bush lawyers?
I have not had any contact
with any member of the Bush team
probably since...
In a good 24 hours.
I need more phones
and whiteboards, guys.
Ron, they asked the United States
Supreme Court for a stay.
I seriously doubt they'll grant it.
There's no way the counting of votes
can cause irreparable harm.
Congress resolves presidential disputes,
not the U.S. Supreme Court.
The protectors of the constitution
know damn well
to stay the hell away from all of this.
If the current pace is maintained,
they might be able to finish
by about 9:00 tonight.
Escambia County... plus three.
Michael, Okeechobee...
plus 10.
Okeechobee... plus 10, guys.
Madison... plus two.
You've gotta come down four.
Madison... plus two.
- Jeremy
- Yeah.
Down two more. Down two.
What are we at?
Osceola... up three.
Osceola... up three.
That's just one.
Just one.
We picked up three in Suwannee
and three in Desoto.
We're minus three for Palm, okay?
Minus three.
Orange County... plus 18.
Jan, we got Manatee...
Manatee's down one.
Down one, Manatee.
Clay's up two.
- What's that?
- 98 votes.
We're down by 98 votes.
- Wait, how many more counties?
- 51.
- Madison... plus two.
- Madison... plus two.
Hey, guys,
the U.S. Supreme Court
just issued a stay.
All counting across the state
has to stop immediately.
- You gotta be kidding.
- On what grounds?
- How could they have...?
- I don't know.
I'm getting Boies.
Turn up the T.V. is that on?
The U.S. SC, one, stays the order
of the Florida state Supreme Court
which seemed to stop
the recount in its place;
and secondly,
has agreed to a writ of certiorari,
will hear the case on monday...
It's terrific.
...dissents were over the fact
that they did stop.
They say "to stop
the counting of legal votes,
the majority today departs from three
venerable rules of judicial restraint
that have guided the Court
throughout its history."
So the dissent is based on the fact
that they shouldn't have
acted so quickly.
Guys, just got this from Al Gore.
He says, quote, "make sure no one
trashes the Supreme Court",
end quote.
Preventing the recount
from being completed
will inevitably cast a cloud
over the legitimacy of the election.
The Florida Court's ruling
reflects the basic principle
that every legal vote should be counted.
The majority has acted unwisely.
I believe a brief response is necessary
to justice Stevens's dissent.
The counting of votes that are
of questionable legality does in my view
threaten irreparable harm
to the petitioner, George W. Bush,
and to the country,
by casting a cloud upon what he claims
to be the legitimacy of his election.
Mr. Boies, Mr. Boies.
Since the United States Supreme Court
set the hearing for December 11th,
won't this prevent you
from completing the recount
by the December 12th deadline?
It's the single most disappointing thing
that the five justices have done.
To put it simply,
they ran out our clock.
How counting votes could have
caused irreparable harm to Bush
is mind-boggling.
Mr. Boies, Mr. Boies.
Second row.
Do you have a strategy for the hearing?
Yes.
Excuse me.
Our strategy begins
with one fundamental truth...
every vote from every citizen
deserves to be counted.
And we believe that is what will
prevail in the courts. Thank you.
It is the decisive moment
in this election
and the crowds who surround
the Supreme Court today know it.
demonstrators have been here
on the steps of the SC for hours,
awaiting the beginning
of today's arguments.
The justices inside this building
are the ultimate arbiters.
So Olson's primary argument
is that the Florida Supreme Court
changed the law
when they extended the deadline.
Kennedy has never seemed impressed
with the "new law" argument.
What about the equal
protection argument?
I don't think Olson
has much faith in it.
It's buried in
the last five pages of their brief.
I'm only eating the red ones today.
I think Kennedy is our only shot.
This is it, isn't it?
Yes, Ron, this is it.
Oyez,
all persons having business
before the honorable
Supreme Court of the United States
are admonished to draw near
and give their attention,
for this Court is now sitting.
God save the United States
and this honorable Court.
I understand you think that the system
that's set up now is very unfair,
because it's different standards
in different places.
but what in your opinion
would be a fair standard?
Certainly, at minimum, Justice Breyer,
a penetration of the ballot card
would be required.
Well, would the starting point be what
the Secretary of State
Katherine Harris decided
was the uniform standard?
I would agree with that,
Justice O'Connor.
I'd still like to get your view
as to what would be the fair standard.
A reasonable standard
would have to be, at minimum,
a penetration of the chad in the ballot,
because dimples or indentations
are no standard at all.
I think there is a uniform standard.
The standard is whether
or not the intent of the voter
is reflected by the ballot.
That's very general.
even a dog knows the difference between
being stumbled over and being kicked.
so would you say from the standpoint
of the equal protection clause,
each county
could give its own interpretation
as to what "intent" means?
I think what's bothering justice Kennedy
is the rule to counting dimpled chads
varies from county to county.
Broward and Miami-Dade
were counting them, Palm Beach was not.
What would you tell them to do about it?
Well, I think
that's a very hard question.
You'd tell them
to count every vote, Mr. Boies.
Yes, I would tell them
to count every vote.
I think I would say,
if you're looking for a standard,
then the Texas standard,
if you wanted to specify something,
gives you a pretty good standard.
It says dimpled chads should be counted.
Why isn't the standard the one
that voters are instructed to follow,
for goodness' sake?
I mean, it couldn't be clearer.
Why don't we go to that standard?
Well, your honor,
because in Florida law since 1917,
Darby v. State,
the Florida Supreme Court has held
that where the intent of the voter
can be discerned,
even if they don't do what they're told,
their vote is supposed to be counted.
For the last 80 years
the Florida Court has always ruled
that the right to participate
in the democratic process
is more important than a voter's ability
to follow instructions.
Mr. Boies, let's assume
that at the end of the day
counties used different standards
for making their count.
At that point, in your judgment,
would it be a violation
of the Constitution to say,
"I don't care that they used
different standards as long
as they purported to follow
voter's intent, that's good enough?"
Can we do that?
I'll extend your time
by two minutes, Mr. Boies.
I do not believe that violates
the equal protection clause.
It is impossible
to have uniform standards
when different types of voting machines
and different types of ballots
are used from county to county.
Hand-counting and recounting of ballots
under the "intent of the voter"
standard has been the rule,
not the exception,
in this country for generations...
indeed, since its founding.
It is the moment of truth.
The Supreme Court may
use this moment to determine who is
the next President of The United States.
There are many ways
this decision could go.
The two most commonly discussed
are that the Supreme Court could send...
it could ask Florida
to resume the recount...
Does anyone want to play cards?
It's in!
It's in.
Our long wait is over.
Greta Van Susteren, another CNN legal
analyst, is on the telephone. Greta.
Bernie, what it seems
to say at this point is
that we don't know for sure.
"The closeness of this election
and the multitude of legal
"challenges which..."
- What's that mean?
- Just one moment, Mr. Vice President.
I'm gonna put you on speakerphone,
Mr. Vice President.
- Are you still there, sir?
- Yeah, I'm here.
There are two rulings
in this decision, sir...
the first is a seven-to-two ruling
that there is an equal
protection violation;
and the second ruling is the remedy
to that violation,
which is five-to-four.
Yes, I need to speak
to the Governor, please.
The majority has ruled that since
we missed the December 12th deadline
set by the Florida Supreme Court...
then there isn't time to resolve
the equal protection violation
and therefore the recount must end.
The S.C shuts down the recount
'causing us to miss the deadline.
Then they say that we can't start up
again because we missed the deadline?
That's pretty much it, sir.
What you got, Jim? Seems like nobody
can make sense of this thing.
Congratulations, Mr. President-elect.
- Did you hear that?
- That sounds good.
Ron, you gotta read this.
Right there.
What is it, Ron?
The Court has ruled
that this decision is, quote,
"limited
"to the present circumstances".
Unbelievable.
The Supreme Court has declared
that Bush v. Gore only counts once,
and then it never counts again.
Have they ever done that before?
Never once in the history
of the U.S. Supreme Court.
What do you think, David?
I think the ruling
is intellectually dishonest,
but the point is crystal clear...
the recount is over.
Mr. Vice President,
our battle is not yet done.
The majority ruled that there is
an equal protection violation
because different counties
are counting with different standards.
So let's petition
the Florida Supreme Court
and get them to set
exact counting standards.
Under these circumstances,
they might finally do it.
David?
I think Ron's lost his mind,
but I'll drink the kool-aid.
The Florida House has already voted
to award the state's electors to Bush.
Yeah, but then
we just file two lawsuits...
one to set standards,
the other to halt the legislature.
We can do this, sir.
Ron, nobody can fault you
for not trying...
No, Mr. Vice President.
Please, sir, listen to me.
You cannot concede.
Not yet, sir.
I beg of you, sir,
just give me one more shot.
Klain is gonna petition
the Florida supremes to set standards.
Sometimes a soldier
just can't stop fighting
even when he knows the war is done.
I've run over 25 recounts
and it never ceases to amaze me...
the extent that democrats will lie,
cheat and steal to win an election.
I mean, if we hadn't played hardball,
they would've stolen this one too.
Now, Ben, I was a democrat
till I was 40 years old.
I have always wondered
why you switched parties.
My wife passed away... cancer.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
Yes, she was...
she was too young.
A very close friend of mine,
who happened to be a republican,
was running for senate
and told me to come work on his campaign
to take my mind off the grief.
I told him I had never worked
in politics before,
and I was a democrat to boot,
but he didn't care. He just...
he just didn't want
to see me sad all the time.
That's a good friend.
He sure is.
The Vice President's on the phone.
- Good morning, Mr. Vice President.
- Hey, Ron.
What can I do for you, sir?
I couldn't sleep last night.
I just couldn't stop thinking,
but then I remembered
what a wise man once said to me.
He said that I have to end this war
when I know I can't win.
Ron,
I can't win.
Even if I win,
I can't win.
I'm sorry, sir. I...
I just...
I just couldn't get them counted.
I'll never forget
what you did for me, Ron.
I will never forget.
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
Ron, we should still file the petitions.
Let's just see if it works.
We've come this far, Ron.
We can't quit now.
Yeah, we can keep
fighting this thing, man.
I want to tell you all
what an honor it's been to work
with such a dedicated and focused group
as you have all proved to be.
I'm enormously grateful
for everything you did.
But it's time for us to stop.
People are going to say all kinds
of things about this election...
That it was down to 154 votes,
that Bush's brother was the Governor,
that the U.S. Supreme Court
gave it to us,
but I want you to remember
that we won every single recount.
Never once did we trail Gore.
And who knows how many votes we lost
when the networks
called Florida for Gore
before all the polls
were closed on election night?
But more important than all that
is that the system worked.
There were no tanks on the streets.
This peaceful transfer of power
in the most emotional
and trying of times
is a testament to the strength
of the Constitution
and to our faith
in the rule of law.
It took a long time getting here...
but here's to George W. Bush,
the 43rd President of The United States.
Hear hear!
We should have asked
for a statewide from the get-go.
That was our biggest mistake.
And Ralph Nader should've
pulled his head out of his ass.
And Elian Gonzales
should've never left Miami.
And Gore should've
campaigned with Clinton.
And Clinton should've got
caught getting a blow job
from Sharon Stone instead of
Monica Lewinsky 'cause then his approval
would have shot through the roof.
And Katherine Harris should've thought
twice about purging 20,000 voters
from the rolls.
And George Bush, jr.,
should have never
quit drinking, but he did.
It is what it is, pal.
Four years from now we'll come back,
gather our information
and go right back at 'em.
Even after all the mistakes
and all the corruption,
we still had about half a day there
when the entire state was counting.
Do you think
if W. had asked for a recount
the Supreme Court would have stopped it?
Good question.
Would you get this on board?
I'll be right back.
Mr. Secretary.
Good to see you, Mr. Klain.
So did the best man win then?
You bet.
Are you sure about that?
As sure as you are about your man.
I hope you're right, Mr. Secretary.
I do hope you're right.
You have a safe trip, Mr. Klain.
Thank you, sir.
Good evening, my fellow Americans.
I appreciate so very much
the opportunity
to speak with you tonight.
Tonight I want to thank
all the thousands of volunteers
and campaign workers
who worked so hard on my behalf.
Republicans want the best
for our nation, and so do democrats.
I was not elected to serve one party,
but to serve one nation.
The President of the United States
is the President
of every single American
of every race and every background.
Whether you voted for me or not,
I will do my best
to serve your interests
and I will work to earn your respect.
Just moments ago,
I spoke with George W. Bush
and congratulated him on becoming
the 43rd President of the U.S.
and I promised him
that I wouldn't call him back this time.
I know that many of my supporters
are disappointed. I am too.
But our disappointment
must be overcome by our love of country.
This is America,
and we put country before party.
We will stand together
behind our new president.
As for the battle that ends tonight,
I do believe, as my father once said,
that no matter how hard the loss,
defeat may serve as well as victory
to shake the soul and let the glory out.
- Thank you and good night.
- Thank you very much.
And God bless America.