[Andria Hall, Cnn Anchor:] The next chapter in Florida's post- election drama will be written in just a few hours in a Tallahassee courtroom. That's where a circuit court judge will issue a pivotal ruling on whether Secretary of State Katherine Harris can certify the election, while ignoring the results of ongoing manual recounts. Harris has said she will not accept any more recounts. Yesterday, Florida's Supreme Court ruled hand recounts can continue, but did not say whether Harris must accept the results. Hand counting of ballots began last night in Palm Beach County and is expected to continue today. A hand count has been underway in Broward County since Wednesday. Ninety of Broward's 609 precincts have been reviewed so far and Al Gore has picked up 21 additional votes. In Florida official count, there Gore trails George W. Bush by 300 votes. Overseas absentee ballots must be certified by midnight tonight. County officials expect about 2300 of them, they will be counted tomorrow. Once that is done, Secretary of State Harris, barring any court intervention, plans to certify this election. Yesterday's unanimous ruling by the Florida Supreme Court allowing manual recounts to continue is being viewed as a major victory by the Gore campaign, but the Bush camp doesn't see it that way.
[William Daley, Gore Campaign Chairman:] The legal hurdles have been cleared. The counting can resume in Palm Beach, continue in Broward, and be reviewed in Dade. We urge these counties to conduct these recounts as quickly as is possible. The delays have been largely the product of lawsuits filed by Republicans or erroneous legal opinions from the secretary of state. With these obstacles gone, we hope that the counts can be finished in the next few days.
[James Baker, Observer For The Bush Campaign:] I wouldn't characterize it as a setback. It does mean that the counties can go forward with the count. We've made very clear our problems with that manual count, with the lack of standards, with the lack of uniformity, with the problems for human error and, indeed, even mischief. Now we will have some counting, that's true, but I don't think you could characterize that as a setback.
[Hall:] With Florida's Supreme Court giving the green light, Palm Beach County hand counted ballots well into this morning. Both Palm Beach and Broward counties are forging ahead with their manual tallies. Despite the Bush campaign's fight to stop the counting, we have reports from both counties. First CNN's Mark Potter in West Palm Beach, Florida.
[Mark Potter, Cnn Correspondent:] After getting word from the Florida Supreme Court it was free to resume the manual recount, the Palm Beach County canvassing board got right to work. It estimates it could take six days to complete the countywide hand count with Democratic and Republican observers standing by. When it finishes, the board will present the results to Florida's secretary of state, Katherine Harris, and expects another legal fight.
[Charles Burton, Canvassing Board Chairman:] Whether it is Broward or Palm Beach or whatever county concludes first and submits those votes, Secretary Harris has already indicated that she is not going to accept them, so that will be the next round of litigation.
[Protesters:] No more Gore!
[Potter:] The manual recount is clearly controversial. Outside the building where the count will be underway, Republican supporters held a noisy protest, arguing the vote has already been counted.
[Protesters:] We want Bush!
[Potter:] Earlier in the day, Democratic protesters held their own rally.
[Protesters:] Every vote counts!
[Potter:] In this Democratic county, they favor the manual recount, arguing a fair count has not yet been done. [on camera]: Coming up next on the court docket in Palm Beach County is a Friday morning hearing on whether it would be legal to hold a new countywide presidential election. Some residents who have filed lawsuits here claim that is the only remedy for what they say was a confusing ballot that cost them their votes. The Republicans strenuously oppose a new election. Mark Potter, CNN, West Palm Beach, Florida.
[Susan Candiotti, Cnn Correspondent:] It was bound to happen and did after only two days.
[Unidentified Male:] The amazing Gorenac ladies and gentlemen, he is here one time only to help the people of Broward County. This is one vote for Al Gore.
[Candiotti:] A carnival atmosphere outside and overhead as inside workers continue the serious work of recounting ballots by hand. The painstaking process conducted without incident until mid-afternoon, then a GOP attorney with a process server burst into the canvassing board.
[William Scherer, Republican Attorney:] You are acting in defiance of a directive from the secretary of state.
[Candiotti:] They delivered an order forcing the panel into court Friday.
[Scherer:] I would like to advise you and request, on the basis of the rule to show cause, that you stop counting hand counting these ballots.
[Candiotti:] He left and the board kept right on counting.
[Charles Lichtman, Democratic Attorney:] Garbage, does that sound about accurate? It does to me.
[Candiotti:] Democrats called the action grandstanding.
[Lichtman:] This looks to me like a very desperate measure by the Republicans.
[Candiotti:] The canvassing board sent its lawyers flying to court and got an emergency hearing Friday morning. They'll ask a judge to throw out the subpoenas and the GOP lawsuit now that the Florida Supreme Court gave the green light to another recount in Palm Beach County. The sole Republican on Broward's canvassing board, who is against all this, admitted their work may be in vain if the secretary of state rejects their results.
[Jane Carroll, Supervisor Of Elections:] If that decision of hers is final, then yes it would be a waste, but if it should be overturned, it is good that we have continued to make progress.
[Candiotti:] So far, no huge shift of votes in favor Al Gore. However, Democrats claim the final tally isn't in yet.
[Unidentified Female:] It can change the balance.
[Candiotti:] That could be wishful thinking. The legal and political maneuvering are far from over and so is this recount, not expected to end before Monday at the earliest, we think. Susan Candiotti, CNN, Broward County, Florida.