Bush to appeal Florida ruling

1:00 PM

TALLAHASSEE - Republican George Bush's campaign said it would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a ruling made by Florida's high court this morning to order new hand counting of thousands of the state's presidential ballots.

Emphasising the fact that the Florida court was split 4-3 in its ruling, Bush spokesman James Baker called the ruling "inconsistent with Florida law, with federal law and with the United States Constitution."

"Therefore we have no alternative other than appeal once again to the United States Supreme Court for relief," he said. "We have already put in motion the process to do that."

Baker criticised the Florida's ruling - and by extension Democrat Al Gore. He said the legal wrangle is what happens when "a candidate resorts to lawsuits to try to overturn the outcome of an election for president."

"It is very sad, it is sad for Florida, it is sad for the nation, and it is sad for democracy," said Baker.

Baker sounded sceptical that 9,000 ballots in Miami-Dade County where machines did not register a presidential vote, plus similar so-called "undervotes" in other Florida counties, could be counted in time for the December 12 deadline for the state to report its results to the Electoral College.

"We will it seems to me have a difficult time knowing by December 12 whether or not the actions called for by the four justices will be concluded by that time," Baker said.

He said the ruling was obviously a disappointment and questioned the court's judgment.

"Its reasoning and result place the court once again at odds with sound judgments of Florida's lower courts, the Florida legislature, local election officials, and at least in our view, the United States Supreme Court," he said.

"This action will unfortunately produce ongoing uncertainty and it could ultimately disenfranchise Florida's votes in the Electoral College," he said.

Baker said Bush, who was in Austin, Texas, was holding up well despite the topsy-turvy nature of the election battle.

"Governor Bush is in fine spirits and quite prepared to see this through," he said.

- REUTERS

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