8A The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 27, 2000 ELECTION 2000 R(ECOUNT Continued from Page 1A nominee, already had declared that it won't be, saying that he and Gore had no choice but to challenge the Florida certifica- tion. "The election was close," Bush said, "but tonight, after a count, a recount and yet another manual recount, Secretary Cheney and I are honored to have won the state of Florida, which gives us the needed electoral votes to win the election." Moments after Republican Harris declared Bush the win- ner of Florida's 25 electoral votes at a ceremony in Tallahas- see, Lieberman said she had certified "an incomplete and inaccurate count" and he and Gore would challenge it. But Bush, in a nationally televised address from Austin, said "I respectfully ask" that Gore reconsider further con- testing the hairline Florida count. Sen. Trent Lott, the Republican majority leader, said Gore should concede. But the vice president was preparing to tell Americans on Monday that he intends to keep fighting and why. Bush said he respected Gore's determination to fight for Florida's 25 electors, which would mean victory for either man, before the vote was certified. Now, he said, "if the vice president chooses to go forward, he is filing a contest to the outcome of the election, and that is not the best route for America." If the certification of a 537-vote Bush margin stands, the Texas governor would win 271 electoral college votes - one more than necessary for victory - to 267 for Gore. Harris said Bush had 2,912,790 votes and Gore had 2,912,253. That gave Bush the 537-vote lead out of 6 mil- lion cast, although Harris rejected partial returns from Palm Beach County. An unofficial AP tally including recounted Palm Beach County votes showed Bush ahead by 357. The secretary of state's formal declaration, which set off GOP cheers outside the Florida capital and at the state capi- tol in Austin, Texas: "Accordingly, on behalf of the state elections canvassing commission and in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida, I hereby declare Governor George W Bush the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes." Lieberman said, "The integrity of our self-government" could be cast into doubt without Democratic steps to get the most complete and accurate count possible. Gore's lawyers were to file their challenge this morning in the courts of Leon County, site of the state capitol at Tallahassee. James Baker, the former secretary of state speaking for Bush - who was making his own statement later yesterday night - said that count already has been delivered, repeatedly. He said Bush "won this election" under the rules set by law before Election Day, Nov. 7 - and under rules changed after the election. Baker denounced Gore's lawyers for what he called an extraordinary resort to the courts - although Bush has his own set of lawsuits, including the appeal the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears oral arguments on Friday. "At some point there must be closure" Baker said. "At some point the law must prevail and the lawyers must go home. "We have reached that point," he said. "... It is time to honor the will of the people." For all that, Baker said Bush will "absolutely" go ahead with his case in the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the state supreme court ruling that led to the extended certifica- tion deadline and hand recounts of ballots cast by machine in four disputed Democratic-leaning counties. "We have no assurance that the other side will stop," he said. Anticipating the certification, Gore was preparing a speech to be delivered today, explaining his case for the continuing challenge. Gore, who got 337,183 more votes than Bush nationwide on Nov. 7, said he has an obligation to the people who sup- ported him and Lieberman, more than for any Democratic ticket before them. In an interview with The New York Times, he said "every vote that is legally cast must be fairly and accurately counted in accordance with the law . "If at the end of this process .... if Governor Bush is suc- cessful, I will spare no effort to help him unify the country behind his leadership," Gore said, "and I would expect him to do the same if I am successful." Sen. Lott called on Gore "to end his campaign and con- cede this election with the honor and dignity the American people expect.' Sen. Tom Daschle, the Democratic leader, said that was not going to happen. "I've talked with most of my col- leagues over the last several days and there isn't any interest in conceding anything at this point." The votes were delivered to Harris in line with a 5 p.m. EST deadline set by the state supreme court, which allowed hand recounts through yesterday, 12 days past the date she had said certification should be final. AP PHOTOS UP: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Crawford, Secretary of State Ktherine Harris and Director of Elections Clay Roberts (far right) all sign copies crtifying Florida's election yesterday in Tallahassee, Fla. BOVE: Democratic vice-presidential hopeful Joe Lieberman makes a statement l1 vashington following the certification of Florida's vote total. I. COLU A Bi UNIVfRSIIY'S 1 11 Uo StudetsM F~yl 4.-C P4 Attend Columbia Universits Biosphere 2 Spring Semester 2001 for the i. SAME TUITION ou a at UofM! VOLVO SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! EARTH SEMESTER " Earth Systems Science and Policy - Field research in places such as the Sea of Cortez and the Sonoran Desert - Interdisciplinary teamwork 01 UNIVERSE SEMESTER " Astronomy and Astrophysics - Night sky observation with a variety of telescopes including our 24" telescope - Access to professional telescopes at Kitt Peak Observatory I k' I I . I Students may cross-reaister C