[Daryn Kagan, Cnn Anchor:] The presidential race has long hinged on Florida and, more than ever before, Al Gore's hopes for capturing the White House seem to have gone south. Legal teams for Gore and George W. Bush have until 3:00 p.m. Eastern to file their briefs with the Florida Supreme Court. Gore lawyers are asking the court to revisit the validity of hand recounts, which drew critical scrutiny from the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday. The Gore legal team is also appealing another setback dealt yesterday: a circuit court's refusal to order more manual recounts. Despite those rulings that were favorable to the Bush campaign, Bush supporters are presenting lawsuits this hour before the 11th Circuit court of appeals here in Atlanta. Oral arguments are now underway on suits claiming that all manual recounts should be excluded from the official results. Just over three hours from now a hearing is scheduled for a Democrat's lawsuit that seeks to invalidate all 15,000 absentee ballots from Seminole County. That suit claims that Republican workers illegally altered ballot applications. And let's go ahead now and check in with my partner Bill Hemmer in Tallahassee. Bill, good morning once again.
[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Correspondent:] Hey, Daryn, good morning once again to you. Want to talk about two things right now the two things we're tracking at this hour. No. 1 is the appeal by Al Gore and the Democrats to the state Supreme Court coming off of Judge Sauls' ruling from yesterday. Now, the Democrats are saying that the decision was so decisive one way toward George W. Bush that they will argue that the judge, in this case, misinterpreted the law. That's the first thing we're watching. The second thing we're watching, as you just mentioned, is the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday, when they remanded their decision back to the state Supreme Court here in Tallahassee. What the U.S. Supreme Court is asking for is a clarification for how the justices made their decision was it based upon state law or was it based upon the Florida state Constitution? And again, we hope to flush both those matters out throughout the day here in Florida. Meanwhile, let's talk about those cases with CNN's Susan Candiotti, who is tracking the latest movements across the street in the state Supreme Court. What do we know right now, first of all, about the appeal that we expect from Al Gore?
[Susan Candiotti, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, just a few minutes ago, Bill, we had word that attorneys for Mr. Gore went to the Florida Supreme Court, marched up the front steps and delivered a copy of the transcript of Judge Sanders Sauls' ruling yesterday in order to help the court along, so to speak to help interpret what happened yesterday before the Florida Supreme Court makes a decision about whether to accept the case.
[Hemmer:] All right; now we have three options here, from our understanding: they can not accept the case; they can take the case and consider it; they can take the case, consider it, and then schedule oral arguments. Is that what we know right now?
[Candiotti:] Those are the three options. And by all accounts and, naturally, the Supreme Court could surprise us and reject it altogether, but most legal observers seem to think that the court will go ahead and set a briefing schedule to hear from attorneys from both sides. And, most likely many people agree that oral arguments are likely in this case. Simply because the whole world is watching, they may very well want to get everyone on the record before issuing a final decision.
[Hemmer:] All right; now let's shift our focus to the U.S. Supreme Court. Those briefs in response are due at 3:00 today. One would assume they're still working on it do we know that?
[Candiotti:] That's right, yes. Attorneys for both sides would be working on those briefs and also working on, at least Mr. Gore's attorneys, the briefs on the appeal, naturally. But, regarding the Supreme Court issue, it is up to the court to decide whether to schedule oral arguments. That will be the big question there. They might just decide to issue their clarification to the Supreme Court simply based on the briefs that it receives.
[Hemmer:] And you know how much we like to follow a schedule, and we like to get times. But in this case, we really can't say for certain how this time schedule will work with the court.
[Candiotti:] No can do. Everyone would like to know when it's going to be over once and for all. A columnist in the local paper wanting to know when she'll be able to get her Christmas shopping started, for example. But the fact of the matter is the seven justices sitting in that building over our shoulders, they're the ones that ultimately will decide. If, in fact, there are oral arguments scheduled, many legal observers hope that and believe that things could get wrapped up by week's end.
[Hemmer:] All right; shopping's on hold for now, though, anyway. Susan Candiotti, again, thanks. About five hours away, now, Daryn, from that deadline that we expect here for those briefs in response to the U.S. Supreme Court, so we are tracking that. Also coming up in about 25 minutes, CNN's Michael Boettcher is going to join us here live in Tallahassee. We'll give you the latest on what we are finding out about the special session that may or may not happen this week. But for now back to Atlanta and Daryn Daryn.
[Kagan:] Bill, thank you very much. You need a chart to follow all the court action. The action taking place right now is actually happening not too far from us here at CNN in downtown Atlanta. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments taking place at this moment. Let's check in now with our Bob Franken, who is covering that for us Bob.
[Bob Franken, Cnn National Correspondent:] Well, Daryn, as you know the Supreme Court the U.S. Supreme Court sent things back to the Florida Supreme Court. The question was, is this a federal matter? There is a federal discussion going on here in the court of appeals. It's an appeal of two defeats for the Bush campaign who claimed that, because not all the counties in Florida were conducting a recount, the people of the state were not getting equal protection under the, which, of course is promised, guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This is the case that the Supreme Court decided not to take for now to allow it to go through the normal three-tiered process of the federal court system. They're hearing two cases, both of them related one from Miami, one from Orlando. The arguments have been going on for about the last hour. We're expecting CNN's Charles Zewe, who was inside the courtroom, to come out in just a moment and discussion the arguments. But the arguments are really distilled in the briefs that have been filed. The Republicans, the Bush campaign lawyers saying that the hand recounts were unequal, constantly shifting, standardless, subjective and procedurally flawed. Those are the arguments that they're presenting up there. It's almost after-the-fact, since the hand recounts have now become a part of the history, but the Bush lawyers are saying they proceeded with this case to make sure that they were not blind-sided by an adverse ruling. So it is possible, depending on what the ruling is here, that there might be still another appeal another appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court Daryn.
[Kagan:] Bobs, it looks like you have a lot of company with you in downtown Atlanta today. It looks like quite a few protesters have shown up.
[Franken:] You know what, it's interesting. They have become quite sophisticated in looking like a large group of protesters; there are probably about 20 here with a megaphone, which makes them sound like much more. This has become part of the ritual of covering these court cases. Both campaigns in this case, it's the Bush campaign trying to, frankly, get on television. And I say that without any fear of contradiction because right before we started the fellow with the megaphone said: "Let's get on
[Cnn." Kagan:] They're getting good they are on
[Cnn. Franken:] Yes they are.
[Kagan:] Bob Franken here with us in downtown Atlanta, thank you very much. We'll check back with you and Charles Zewe when we have more information when he comes out of the courtroom. Meanwhile, still elsewhere on the legal landscape of Florida, it is a judge in Pensacola who is hearing arguments this morning on a Republican effort to get more military absentee votes counted. Republicans have sued canvassing boards in seven counties that rejected undated absentee ballots. Bush led Gore by about a two-to- one margin among overseas voters. And now it's time to check in with the presidential candidates themselves. Our Jonathan Karl is shadowing the vice president today, while our Tony Clark is following the Texas governor. We're going to start with Jonathan in Washington. Jonathan, the momentum, right now, clearly with the Bush camp.
[Jonathan Karl, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, nobody, not even the most, you know, firm Gore partisans would deny that; clearly a major blow for the vice president yesterday. Up on Capitol Hill today you have a case of dueling vice presidential candidates. Of course, earlier, we saw Dick Cheney up talking to Republican leaders. The vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman is also on the hill; he is meeting, now, with congressional leader. We expect to hear from him any minute now. He's expected to come to the microphones and talk with Dick Gephardt, the House democratic leaders. He'll be coming out of those closed doors and to those microphones. Basically what Joe Lieberman is telling congressional Democrats and he will bring the same message to congressional to Senate Democrats later on is, hang with the vice president, this is almost over. Basically the message is, this is not over until the fat lady sings, if you will. And the fat lady, in this case, is the Florida state Supreme Court. And the fat lady, in this case, is on the stage ready to sing. So they're saying, be patient; this is almost over. And they believe that the vice president, Joe Lieberman, making the case the vice president has a decent shot despite what everybody else is saying has a decent shot before Florida state Supreme Court. A forum that, he is telling Democrats, is much more friendly than Judge Sanders Sauls. They believe they have the case on the law; they are going to fight that. And they're saying, regardless of the matter, it's before the Florida state Supreme Court, let it run its course. Florida must certify its electors by December 12. Lieberman is telling Democrats up there, especially nervous Democrats, that the vice president has no intention of going beyond December 12; and, indeed, no intention of going beyond the Florida state Supreme Court. As one top Gore adviser told me this morning, look, whatever the Florida state Supreme Court says we will abide by. There's no plans for further appeal. So that's the basic message saying, we may be down but we're not out, hang with us.
[Kagan:] Jonathan, how much can the Gore-Lieberman camp depend on leaders in Congress to stay with them and stay unified, and how important is that unified front?
[Karl:] Well, it's extremely important and, as far as the leadership in Congress goes, the vice president has been given word by both Dick Gephardt on the House side and by Tom Daschle on the Senate side that the congressional democratic leadership is with him through the appeal. That's the very firm message he has gotten. Far less certain, Daryn, though, is what about some of the other Democrats, what about some of those moderate to conservative Democrats who are far more nervous about that? There's already grumbling, you know, among many of them and it's time for the vice president to turn it in, to throw the towel in. But vice president Joe Lieberman, the vice presidential candidate, saying OK, you may believe that, but please give us a couple of days. Let this run its course before you come out, because they know it's extremely important. As another Gore aide told me, when you have two decisions like you had yesterday coming from the U.S. Supreme Court and coming from the district court in Florida, coming against you or, definitely in the case of the Florida court case, you create the impression that you could have a stampede. They're very worried about a stampede. They're very worried that if you have one, two, three Democrats coming out raising questions about the vice president's strategy, you'll have many more follow suit. So they're very nervous about what's going on on Capitol Hill.
[Kagan:] Jonathan Karl in Washington, thank you very much. As you mentioned, we're waiting for Senator Joseph Lieberman to come out and speak as he meets with Democratic leaders. And when he does, just as you heard Dick Cheney, you'll see that live here on CNN. Meanwhile, let's check in with the Bush camp; and, once again, that is Tony Clark covering that camp for us. Tony, we heard from the man that George Bush calls vice president and that would be Dick Cheney, the former secretary of state.
[Tony Clark, Cnn National Correspondent:] I think that, Daryn, that gives us some idea of the confidence that the Bush campaign feels. This morning the governor getting his intelligence briefing from the CIA, moving ahead as if he's the president-elect at least moving in that direction. Right now we're waiting for the governor to leave the governor's mansion. In fact, his Suburban is right in front of the door. He will go over to the state capitol, spend a few hours at the state capitol this morning working, we presume, on both state business and talking to both the attorneys in Florida and the transition folks that are in Washington, D.C. working on a possible Bush administration. As I say, the governor is excited; he is pleased. In fact, the words that we get, that the Bush campaign is energized by the court decisions they have seen over the last 24 hours. And right now Dick Cheney, the vice presidential candidate, Bush's running mate is in Washington. He went on the hill this morning to meet with Republican leaders. He is going to be on the hill all day today. And just a short time ago he said that the reason he's on the hill is to discuss with the Republicans leaders the plans for a possible Bush administration.
[Dick Cheney , Vice Presidential Candidate:] The subject of conversation that I wanted to hold again, at the request of the governor today, is to talk to Republican members about the transition, about the process that's underway, about our ongoing efforts to get on with the business of putting together a cabinet, sub-cabinet and building an administration so that we'll be ready to exercise our responsibilities beginning on January 21.
[Clark:] Governor Bush says that he knows it is a difficult situation that Vice President Gore is in. He's not calling for the vice president to concede, but the governor is saying he still feels very confident that he and Dick Cheney won the election in Florida and will be the next administration. Tony Clark, CNN, Austin, Texas.
[Kagan:] Tony, thank you very much. I want to correct myself a slight slip of the tongue I called Dick Cheney former secretary of state; of course, he was former secretary of defense.