Bush vows to work with Gore to 'heal country'

AUSTIN – US president-elect George W. Bush has pledged to work with his election rival Democrat Al Gore to "heal our country after this hard fought contest."

The Republican, speaking 36 days after the November 7 election and less than an hour after Gore conceded defeat to him, thanked Gore for his "gracious" concession telephone call.

"We agreed to meet early next week in Washington and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard fought contest," said Bush, speaking to the nation from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives.

In a sign of the bipartisanship Bush hopes to bring to the nation's capital, Bush was introduced by the state's Democratic Speaker Pete Laney.

"The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington," Bush said.

"It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens."

He added: "I was not elected to serve one party but to serve one nation."

Nationally, the Democratic vice president outpolled the Texas governor by more than 300,000 votes - 50,158,094 to 49,820,518.

Bush won the election by capturing the needed state-based 270 electoral votes with Florida's 25 putting him over the top.

Gore's attempt to get a hand count of disputed ballots in the state was ended yesterday by a divided U.S. Supreme Court.

"I have a lot to be thankful for tonight," said Bush, son of the country's 41st president.

"I am thankful for America and thankful that we are able to resolve our electoral differences in a peaceful way. And I am thankful to the American people for the great privilege of being able to serve as your next president."

He added: "The presidency is more than an honor, more than an office. It is a charge to keep, and I will give it my all."

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Fight for the White House

Transcript: The US Supreme Court decision

Transcript: The US Supreme Court oral arguments

Diary of a democracy in trouble

The US Electoral College

Florida Dept. of State Division of Elections

Supreme Court of Florida

Supreme Court of the United States

Democrats and Republicans wage war online