I 'Er One hundred ten years of editoria,,freedom ,rI IEWS: 76-DAILY '"LASSIIED: 764-0557 n vwmichigandaily. com Wednesday November 8, 2000 Recount in Florida to determine who wins White House From staff and wire reports After an apparent victory for Texas Gov. George W. Bush early this morning, Vice President Al Gore retracted his concession around 3:30 a.m. when the results in Florida nar- rowed to a less than 1 percent margin and Democratic officials in the state contacted the Gore's campaign. Regardless of the outcome in Florida, the election appears to be the closest in history. As of 4:30 a.m., with 96 percent of precincts reporting nationwide, fewer than 70,000 votes of about 95 million cast separated the Democrat and Republican candidates. "The race is simply too close to call. Until this is resolved, our cam- paign continues," Gore campaign chairman Bill Daley told the crowd in Nashville. Bush campaign officials had not addressed the media or the crowd in Austin, Texas, at press time. Gore conceded the election to Bush in a phone call at 2:30 a.m., but after the Florida margin narrowed, Gore retracted his phone call just as he was seemingly poised to address supporters and accept defeat. It was an incredible political spec- tacle by any standard. TV networks projected Bush the winner, igniting GOP celebrations in Austin. An hour later, the conclusive vote they cited in Florida had tight- ened. Supporters in Nashville chanted, "Recount!" Republicans maintained precarious control of Congress as the GOP bid to hold the House, Senate and presi- dency for the first time in 46 years. In the most dramatic election in decades, it all came down to Florida. AP's analysis showed the narrowest See PRESIDENT, Page 8 AP PHOTO Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush were busy late into the night on Election Day - and their campaigns are not done yet. Vice president taes Mchigan Unofficial results As of 4:30 a.m. Gore wins state with help }from UAW workers on Election Day holiday DETROIT (AP) - Vice President Al Gore cap- tured Michigan's critical 18 electoral votes yesterday behind efforts that included a first-ever UAW holiday and an active get-out-the-vote effort in Detroit that sought to send more Democratic voters to the polls. An exit poll by Voter News Service, a partner- ship of The Associated Press and television net- works, showed that Gore would win enough votes in Michigan to defeat GOP Texas Gov. George W. hush in the state. With 79 percent of precincts reporting, Gore had 1,678,472 votes, or 51 percent, to Bush's 1,556,978 votes, or 47 percent. The candidates, their running mates and family members traveled the state often in pursuit of Michi- gan's electoral votes, a prize that could give either the winning margin in the tightest presidential race in 40 years. Bush had turned to his good friend Gov. John Engler to get out the vote as the race went to the wire. Late Tuesday night, Engler had refused to acknowledge Gore as Michigan's victor and said "let's wait until all the numbers are in," then later voiced disappointment at Bush's setback in Michigan. "Well, yes, I wanted to be the one that puts George Bush over the top. Now it looks like it's going to be his younger brother (Florida Gov.) Jeb Bush who's going to put him over the top," Engler said about 12:30 a.m. today as the electoral vote tal- lies pressed on. Both Bush and Gore secured their partisan bases and were nearly even in drawing independents, according to the exit poll. It found that Gore drew strong backing from key Democratic constituencies - blacks, organized labor and liberals - and from voters who considered themselves better off financially than they were four years ago. See MICHIGAN, Page 8 Popular vote Gore: 46,946,702 Bush: 46,876,476 Nader, 2,548,567 Michigan Gore: 1,678,472 Bush: 1,556,978 N d.r: 70,039, Electoral College 270 needed to win Gore: 249 Bush: 246 Stabenow leads Abraham for Michigan Senate seat i i LOCAL COVERAGE M Democrat John Hieftje will become Ann Arbor's next mayor after coming out on top in a three-way race for theo en seat. U. .Rep. Lynn Rivers doubles GOP challenger Carl rry's votes to win her ~urthterm in Congress. Results of local state House Kolb races, including Chris Kolb's win to retain the 53rd District seat for the Democrats. Page :5 STATENEWS School vouchers were roundly defeated by ichigan voters as Proposal 1 fails. Proposal 2, which limits state authority in matters that affect local governments, also fails.; Page 7 NATIONAL RESULTS By Hanna LoPatin and Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporters "It's not over yet. We're going to keep hanging on. - Spence Abraham Michigan hockey coach DETROIT - In what was perhaps the closest Senate race in the nation, U.S. Rep. ict.Senate D e b b ie Stabenow Dem.1,686,514 Stabenow Abraham GOP 1,673,765 appears to As- of 3:30am h a v e edged out incumbent Spence Abraham and in doing so, narrowed the Republi- can majority in the Senate to one of the smallest in decades. As of 3:30 a.m., the race was tied at 49 percent each for Stabenow and Abraham, with Stabenow having a slight lead in the total number of votes cast. "I have to tell you that until we see some final numbers we can't officially declare this - but it sure looks good," Stabenow said just after midnight to a crowd at the Democratic victory party in Detroit. "It's going to be a while See SENATE, Page 8 Sen. Spence Abraham speaks with his wife Jane at the Holiday Inn hotel In Lansing last night. Early returns give no clear winner in regent race By Jen Fish and Lisa Koivu Daily Staff Reporters board, is being watched closely for a num- field Hills led Republican candidates ber of reasons. Susy Avery of Grand Of particular concern has Universit oRapids and Wendy Ander- been speculations that this of Reents son of Commerce Town- race is a referendum on ship. McGowan had 25 academic freedom and the McGowan Dem. 1,060,794 percent, Deitch had 24 University's participation in Deitch Dem. 1,007,036 percent and Anderson and the affirmative action law- Anderson GOP 933,437 Avery each had 22 per- Aunu rAD l (11 (1l Deitch just behind with 27 percent. "I'm hopeful I'll win," Deitch said from his home early this morning. Deitch added he was confident that Detroit voters would support the Democ- ratic incumbents. "The city of Detroit votes overwhelm- ingly Democratic. I wouldn't begin to As of 2 a.m. early this morning, the hotly contested race for two seats on the University Board of Regents are still in doubt. li' I