Bush ready to take over, Gore goes to the people

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, NOV. 28. Even as the Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush, is going ahead with the transition process, the Vice- President, Mr. Al Gore, has asked the American people to stay behind him. The Constitution mattered more than convenience, he said and appealed for patience.

In an address to the nation from his official residence on Monday night, Mr. Gore alleged that all votes in Florida in the U.S. presidential election had not been counted which was why he was seeking legal recourse. ``I believe our Constitution matters more than convenience. So, as provided under Florida law, I have decided to contest this inaccurate and incomplete count in order to ensure the greatest possible credibility for the outcome.''

``This is America. When votes are cast we count them. We don't arbitrarily set them aside because it's too difficult to count them,'' the Vice-President said and claimed that the counting in the State was neither fair nor complete. Mr. Bush was certified the winner in the State by a margin of 537 votes.

Mr. Gore also criticised the Republicans for preventing a full recount by resorting to intimidation. ``A vote is not just a piece of paper. A vote is a human voice, a statement of human principle and we must not let those voices be silenced.''

Support waning for Gore

A second poll on Monday showed that support for Mr. Gore was slipping. Fiftysix per cent of the respondents in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll said he should concede while 42 per cent approved his handling the situation.

Senior Republicans also criticised Mr. Gore's televised address. ``The Vice-President was spinning tonight; it wasn't statesmanship. What is going on... is that their base of support is eroding?'' wondered the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Jim Nicholson.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Gore campaign filed papers in court in Tallahassee contesting the outcome of the elections in the State, especially in the three counties of Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Nassau. Besides, the Florida Supreme Court said it would hear briefs on the so-called butterfly ballot where some voters said the confusing ballot led them to vote for the Reform Party's Mr. Patrick Buchanan instead of Mr. Gore.

The Gore camp is racing against time as all law suits in Florida must be wrapped up by December 12 - the day the State picks its 25 members of the Electoral College.

Bush team unfazed

Unfazed that the General Services Administration has refused to hand over either the keys for a suite of offices or the cheque for $5.3 millions allotted for transition, the Texas Governor has begun moving more members of his team to Washington D.C. Mr. Bush's running mate, Mr. Richard Cheney, who is already here, said private funds would be sourced to meet the expenditure.

Mr. Bush is likely to name Gen. Colin Powell as his Secretary of State, Ms. Condoleeza Rice the National Security Adviser and Mr. Lawrence Lindsey to a top economic position.

It is said that Mr. Sam Nunn, a prominent Democrat, may be named the Defence Secretary. The Texas Governor received a shot in the arm when the Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Trent Lott, asked all Committee Chairs to begin hearings on January 4, 2001 for Cabinet appointments.

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