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The Florida Recount: Republican Party Delights in State Supreme Court's Rejection of Gore Camp's Supreme Court Lawsuit

Aired November 23, 2000 - 2:55 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: As you just heard here, the Supreme Court denying the Gore appeal to try to get that recount restarted in Miami-Dade County.

CNN's Frank Buckley is there with the latest about this -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, understandably, the reaction to this ruling between the different parties is mixed. I just got off the phone talking to Democratic Party sources, they sounded dejected and were already considering their options. I just spoke with a Republican source here in Florida, he said, obviously, they're very happy and they believe that the court acted responsibility.

In fact, Republicans were en route to a turkey dinner -- being bussed -- 200 or so Republican observers being bussed right now to a turkey dinner in Fort Lauderdale. Obviously going be to be in a very happy mood. But I asked this Republican source, will those observers now be bussed to one of the other counties where the hand counting will continue? His response, no; for the moment they'll stay in this area because things have been changing on an hourly basis.

They also, just as an indication as to the Republican point of view, and the thinking with regard to this decision -- immediately after the lower court ruled yesterday -- or, rather, the canvassing board ruled yesterday, the Republicans had a training session planned for people who would be helping in the hand counting process as observers. They went ahead and had that training session even though the canvassing board had issued a ruling that was favorable to them. So they have never felt that this was completely over and they have been prepared, and continued to be prepared, for other possible legal challenges -- Natalie.

ALLEN: We'll wait and see about that. It appears over for now, and now the focus is on the two counties just north of Dade. Thanks Frank Buckley.

For more about that, here's Stephen.

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Natalie, all during this day we've been turning to Susan Candiotti in Broward County, one of those that you just mentioned. Broward is the only count actually actively counting ballots today and an intense process it is. Susan, earlier you showed us pictures of how intently they're working over the ballots and since we spoke to you last, things seemed to get a little tight in there. What happened?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Things did get a little hot. This is the second disruption of the day so far; and let me briefly set the scene for you so you can, perhaps, understand it a little bit better.

Part of it has to do with the latest numbers. We can tell you that, because of this process of counting these -- considering these so-called "dimpled ballots" and under-votes, Vice President Gore has picked up an additional 76 votes, giving him a net gain of 213 votes in Florida thus far in Broward County.

Republicans have been frustrated throughout, to try to stop this process. They have failed in every attempt. So during the course of this proceeding, not long ago, one of the Republican attorneys, who is described as a power broker here in Broward County, had a dispute over one of the ballots. And trouble is, is that he is a partisan observer here, and observers are not allowed to participate in the proceeding -- they can watch and take notes and the like. Well, when the Republican attorney interrupted the proceeding, that didn't set well with the chairman of the canvassing board, Judge Robert Lee, and he lambasted the attorney.

Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE ROBERT LEE, CHAIRMAN, BROWARD COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD: Mr. Scherer, you can take notes, but please don't interrupt us again, sir, OK. The rest of your colleagues have been able to cooperate with us and make this a function that we're not getting in disputes about, and I'd ask you to do the same.

WILLIAM SCHERER, ATTORNEY, BUSH CAMPAIGN: Judge, I'm sorry, but when you -- I'm trying to make a record here -- when you count as a Gore vote when all of the card is clearly punched and the Gore tab is just indented, whether there is...

LEE: Sir, you do not have the right to speak, sir.

SCHERER: Well, I'm telling you, sir that that's -- you know, you can kick me out of here if you want to. But when you're counting those votes you're contrary to Pullin (ph) and I'm going to try to make a record of it.

LEE: Then why don't you excuse yourself, sir, before I have you removed, OK?

SCHERER: I think I'd like to have you have me removed, please.

LEE: OK, deputy, would you please escort Mr. Scherer from the courtroom?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: At that moment, two Broward sheriff's deputies walked up, along with a plain-clothes police official and they stood behind there as tempers eventually cooled down a bit. Judge Lee reminded the attorney the Republican attorney Bill Scherer that he is there to observe and not to inject himself into the proceedings and finally, in the end, as the deputies backed off, and Mr. Scherer remains at the table along with the other partisan observers.

Stephen, that's it from here. Back to you.

FRAZIER: Well, it's never really it there in Broward. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much for that update -- and the count goes on there, as we understand.

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