The campaign continues

Recount in Florida to determine who wins White House

From staff and wire reports

After an apparent victory for Texas Gov. George W. Bush early this morning, Vice President Al Gore retracted his concession around 3:30 a.m. when the results in Florida narrowed to a less than 1 percent margin and Democratic officials in the state contacted the Gore's campaign.

Regardless of the outcome in Florida, the election appears to be the closest in history.

As of 4:30 a.m., with 96 percent of precincts reporting nationwide, fewer than 70,000 votes of about 95 million cast separated the Democrat and Republican candidates.

"The race is simply too close to call. Until this is resolved, the campaign continues," Gore campaign chairman Bill Daley told the crowd in Nashville. Bush campaign officials had not addressed the media or the crowd in Austin, Texas, at press time.

Gore conceded the election to Bush in a phone call at 2:30 a.m., but after the Florida margin narrowed, Gore retracted his phone call just as he was seemingly poised to address supporters and accept defeat.

It was an incredible political spectacle by any standard.

TV networks projected Bush the winner, igniting GOP celebrations in Austin. An hour later, the conclusive vote they cited in Florida had tightened.

Supporters in Nashville chanted, "Recount!"

Republicans maintained precarious control of Congress as the GOP bid to hold the House, Senate and presidency for the first time in 46 years.

In the most dramatic election in decades, it all came down to Florida. AP's analysis showed the narrowest

of margins with final votes still being tallied in several Democratic counties. The networks projected a Bush victory that would put him over the top and that sparked gloom in the Gore camp in Nashville and triumphant cheers in Texas.

A Bush victory would give America its second father-son presidents after John Adams (1797-01) and John Quincy Adams (1825-29).

Bush was said to be poised to claim his prize.

Florida would give Bush 271 votes in the Electoral College, one over the majority needed to claim the

presidency. Just thousands of votes separated the two candidates in Florida out of almost 6 million cast, and the margin was sure to require a recount.

Several states were still to close to call. With Florida officials continuing their tally, the New York Times said Bush had won and congratulated him on "the amazing political feat of leaping to the White House after only six years in public office."

With the election so tight, Democrats were sure to second-guess Gore's refusal to involve President Clinton in his campaign. They also were sure to rue the day that Green Party candidate Ralph Nader entered the race and siphoned off Gore votes in several key states.

Florida had been the epicenter of the campaign and Tuesday night was chaotic. At one point news organizations said Gore was the winner, but they backtracked as more votes were counted and Bush eased ahead.

Republicans retained control of the Senate _ if narrowly _ and looked likely to keep a small majority in the House as well. Bush or Gore, the next president will be submitting his first-year agenda to a deeply divided Congress.

Gore won big battlegrounds in Pennsylvania, Michigan and California while Bush claimed Texas, Ohio and a string of smaller states, including Gore's Tennessee and Bill Clinton's Arkansas.

Green Party candidate Ralph Nader had just 3 percent of the national vote, but did well enough in to potentially tip several states to Bush.

Ever confident, Bush went out for dinner and awaited final returns. When the news media called Florida for Gore in midevening, Bush said, "I don't believe some of these states that they called, like Florida."

Regarding the vice president, Bush said, "I've run against a formidable opponent."

Gore, awaiting returns in Nashville, wasn't heard from until his calls to Bush.

Unofficial results

Popular vote

Bush: 46,876,476

Nader: 2,548,567

Michigan

Gore: 1,678,472

Bush: 1,556,978

Nader: 70,039

Electoral College

Gore: 249

Bush: 246