Now let the honeymoon begin

By STAFF REPORTERS and AGENCIES

The most drawn-out and bitterly contested United States presidential election in living memory ended yesterday as Democratic candidate Al Gore uttered the words: "I offer my concession."

The Vice-President's admission of defeat - after five weeks of legal wrangling, including two trips to the Supreme Court - cleared the way for the Republican Governor of Texas, George W. Bush, to claim the presidency.

Speaking just after his opponent, Bush aimed for a theme of national unity and reconciliation in his address, saying the country had to "rise above a house divided."

"I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver," Mr Bush declared.

"I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to serve your interests, and I will work to earn your respect."

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

Americans watched the speeches on television sets across the country with a mixture of cynicism, fascination and relief.

"It was time to put an end to it. We need closure," said Chip Martin, aged 38, of Waco, Texas.

While most media commentators praised Mr Gore's concession speech as gracious, firefighters in Scottsdale, Arizona, who kicked back in velvet recliners to watch, were less impressed.

Mr Gore was being conciliatory "because he wants a job," said Bret Underhill, aged 35.

"He's so fake," jeered Destry Lunt, 26. "Can't he just walk out and make this short and sweet? It's not like he won."

Ron Fawcett, a 57-year-old from Florida, who voted for Mr Bush, said that uniting the country was his biggest job now.

"I think [the speech] was powerful and to the point. Your staunch Democrats are never going to agree with the decision of the Supreme Court, but for the good of the country we'll have to pull together."

Commentators agreed that Mr Bush's wafer-thin mandate meant he could be heading for one of the shortest political honeymoons of any United States President in modern history - if he gets one at all.

The President-elect faces enormous challenges: holding his own base in the conservative wing of the Republican Party, reaching out to centrist Democrats and warding off what is likely to be a four-year challenge to his legitimacy from liberals in the Democratic Party.

A day after the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, finally killed his White House hopes, Mr Gore yielded in a generous and witty address, calling on all Americans to unite behind "President-elect Bush."

"Just moments ago I talked to George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd President of the United States, and promised that I would not call him back this time," Mr Gore said, referring to his aborted concession on election night, which he rescinded an hour later.

Transcript: George W. Bush's speech

Transcript: Al Gore's speech

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