Uncertainty persists in Florida

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, NOV. 25. The maze of law suits filed in Florida by both the Bush and Gore campaigns in the U.S. impending poll is ample testimony to the persisting uncertainty, even if Florida's Secretary of State, Ms. Katherine Harris, makes her certification of the result after 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Vice-President, Mr. Al Gore's campaign has said quite clearly that it will contest the certification especially as it relates to the decision of the Palm Beach county to stop manual counts - a big blow to the Vice- President, who was expected to pick up several hundred votes here.

Mr. Gore has thus far received a net gain of 306 votes in the Broward county, where counting is still going on for ambiguous ballots. Unofficially, the Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush's lead has now been trimmed to about 730 votes. Officially the spread is 930 votes in favour of the Texas Governor.

The presidential election will not reach any finality this Sunday; much will depend on what the U.S. Supreme Court says in its final ruling. But a general feeling is that its verdict will have an impact on the frayed tempers.

Meanwhile, charges and counter-charges continued to fly in Florida and elsewhere as recounting in the State continued against the backdrop of the Sunday deadline for certification of the results.

The Democrats stepped up their attack, saying the Grand Old Party had bussed its activists and political operatives to intimidate county canvassing boards. The Democrats deployed the Vice- Presidential running mate, Mr. Joseph Lieberman, to make this charge.

The Republicans quickly hit back. Apart from dismissing the allegations, they asked where Mr. Lieberman was when the Civil Rights leader, Mr. Jesse Jackson, led protests in Florida.

``I don't recall Joe Lieberman's opposition to organised protests put together by the Rev Jesse Jackson and the AFL-CIO in the Palm Beach county,'' said Mr. Ari Fleischer, a senior adviser to Mr. Bush.

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Section  : International
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