The U.S. presidential election has taken yet another turn in its lengthy process to determine the world's most powerful man.
Yesterday, Vice President Al Gore called for a meeting with Texas Gov. George W. Bush to ask supporters of both parties to back whoever may win the presidency. Gore promised yesterday to accept the results from any hand recount, including a massive statewide hand recount if needed.
But in a taped response, Bush rejected Gore's proposal to continue recounts, saying the recount process must be fair, accurate and final.
Before the candidates' statements, Florida courts rejected attempts by Katherine Harris, Florida's Secretary of State and Bush supporter, to stop hand recounts of votes and to move all lawsuits concerning the election to state court in Tallahassee.
Also last night, Harris rejected requests from several counties to amend their votes, saying that the state already has certified existing vote totals. That count shows Bush leading Gore by 300 votes, pending a count of the state's overseas absentee ballots, which are due by midnight Friday.
A final count of Florida's votes is expected Saturday.
The latest court proceedings are part of a string of events that have occurred since the Nov. 7 election, which still hinges upon Florida's 25 electoral votes.
Craig Bieber, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the Bush campaign is trying to block the "will of the people" even though a recount is mandated by law.
Ed Matricardi, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Viriginia, said hand recounts should not be permitted, because "machines are neither Democrat nor Republican." He went on to say that hand counting could be very arbitrary, and "the Democrats want to keep counting until they get a result they like."
Beiber argued that both parties oversee hand counts and officials can count some ballots that machines could miss. Hand counts should be used to make sure the results reflect the "will of the people," he said.
With all the political and legal maneuvering before the recount deadline on Tuesday, the election still will not be determined before Friday when all overseas absentee ballots are due.
Those ballots could determine who wins Florida's electoral votes and the presidency.
History suggests Bush has reason to be hopeful, since in the past several elections most absentee ballots are usually Republican.
According to Scott Keeter, chairman of the Department of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, no one can take anything for granted in this election.
Keeter joked that with all the unusual outcomes thus far, his "money is on overseas ballots coming in for Gore" and turning the election to him.
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