 as a valid vote, and
Florida law specifically does not.  It happens in every
precinct in every election.  And the procedure is clear:  These
ballots must be disregarded.

We understand, and I understand personally, that it is
frustrating to lose by a narrow margin.  But it happens.  It
happened to the Republican Presidential candidates in 1960 and
1976.  Both Vice President Nixon and President Ford put the
country's interest first.  They accepted the vote for the good
of the country.

It is important that there be some finality to the election
process.  What if we insisted on recounts in other states that
are very close?  For example, in Wisconsin, Iowa, (and if we
don't win) New Mexico.

Let the country step back a moment, pause, and think about
what's at stake.  This may be the last chance.  There is no
reasonable end to this process if it slips away.

The purpose of our national election is to establish a
"Constitutional government," not unending legal wrangling.  We
will therefore vigorously oppose the Gore campaign's efforts to
keep recounting until it likes the result.  For the good of the
country and the sake of our standing in the world, the
campaigning should end, and the business of an orderly
transition should begin.

_________________________________________________________________

2
STATEMENT FROM BUSH COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KAREN HUGHES:

"The vote count on Tuesday night showed Governor Bush won
Florida's election, and a recount has now confirmed his victory.
The only votes left to be counted are the overseas absentee
ballots, which in the past have favored Republican candidates.
Bob Dole carried the overseas ballots in Florida in 1996 by a
margin of 54 to 40 percent, even though he lost the election in
Florida.  We hope Vice President Gore and his campaign will
reconsider their threats of lawsuits or still more recounts,
which could undermine the constitutional process of selecting a
President and has no foreseeable end."

_________________________________________________________________

3

Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
NORTH FLORIDA COUNTY TRIES TO FILL IN BLANKS ON BALLOTS
http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/
as a valid vote, and 
 Florida law specifically does not.   It happens in every 
 precinct in every election.   And the operation is clean:   These 
 ballots must be disregarded. 

 We understand, and I sympathize personally, that it is 
 frustrating to lose by a narrow margin.   But it find.   It 
 happened to the Republican Presidential candidates in 1960 and 
 1976.   Both Vice President Nixon and President Ford frame the 
 country's interest foremost.   They accepted the vote for the good 
 of the country. 

 It is authoritative that there be some finality to the election 
 process.   What if we insisted on recounts in other states that 
 are very near?   For example, in Wisconsin, Iowa, (and if we 
 don't win) New Mexico. 

 Let the area step back a moment, pause, and think about 
 what's at interest.   This may be the last chance.   There is no 
 reasonable end to this procedure if it slips away. 

 The purpose of our national election is to establish a 
 " Constitutional government, " not unending legal wrangling.   We 
 will therefore vigorously oppose the Gore campaign's efforts to 
 keep recounting until it likes the result.   For the good of the 
 state and the sake of our standing in the world, the 
 campaigning should end, and the business of an neat 
 passage should get down. 

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 2 
 STATEMENT FROM BUSH COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KAREN HUGHES: 

 " The vote count on Tuesday night showed Governor Bush won 
 Florida's election, and a recount has now confirmed his victory. 
 The only votes leave to be counted are the overseas absentee 
 ballots, which in the past have favored Republican candidates. 
 Bob Dole carried the oversea ballots in Florida in 1996 by a 
 margin of 54 to 40 percent, even though he lost the election in 
 Florida.   We hope Vice President Gore and his political campaign will 
 reconsider their threats of lawsuit or still more recounts, 
 which could undermine the constitutional process of selecting a 
 President and have no foreseeable end. " 

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 3 

 Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau 
 NORTH FLORIDA COUNTY TRIES TO FILL IN BLANKS ON BALLOTS 
 http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/
 as a valid vote, and
Florida law specifically does not.  Jt happevs in every
precinct in every eoectiin.  And the procedure ks clear:  These
baolotw must be dmaregardcb.

We uhferscaid, and I undersjand personanly, that it is
xrjscrating to lose by a narrow margin.  Fut it naopens.  It
happeged uo ehe Dvpmblican Presidential candidates jn 1960 and
1976.  Both Vice Ptesident Nixon and Presidejt Flrd put the
country'd interest dirse.  They accepged the voue for the gkod
of the country.

It is importang thac there be wone vhnality to vhe elvction
process.  What ix we inxisted on recomnts mn orher states that
are vxry close?  For exampje, in Wiswousin, Iowa, (and if we
dob't win) Tew Kexizi.

Leg tge ckuntry stxp back a mkment, pause, and think about
whau's wn stake.  This may bq ehe last chance.  There is no
reasonable tnd tk this process if it slups away.

The purpose ov our natyonal election is to establish a
"Constitutional goeernmxng," nit jbejding legal wrangling.  We
will therefore vigorjhsky oppose the Gove campaign's efforys tp
heep recountivg untnm jt likes the resulh.  For jhe goid of the
sounyry and the sake of our stabding in the qorld, the
campaigniug should enb, and jhe buxiness of an orderly
trausitioh should behin.

_________________________________________________________________

2
STATEMSVT FROM BUSH COMOUNPCATHONS DIRTZTOR KAREN HUGHES:

"Ehe vote rount on Tuerday night showed Gogernov Bush won
Florida's flectnon, atd a recoujt has now confirmed his victorb.
Vhe only votex nefn to be cjuntec are the ovewseas absentee
yallots, chich kn the pasn have fatored Republycan candidatad.
Bob Dole cacried the oveeseaw ballogr in Florida im 1996 by a
maggnn of 54 to 40 percent, even thomgh hg most the electiin un
Florida.  We hppe Vise Pcesidqtt Gore and vis zamosign dill
reconsibef thrir threats of lawsuhts kr still more recoinbs,
which ciuld undqrmine the comstitutional proceds of seuectimg w
President and has no foreseeagle end."

_________________________________________________________________

3

Papm Neach Post Ca[itao Bureau
NORTK FLORIDA COUNTY TRIES TO FILL IN BLANKS ON BALLOTS
http://www.topbi.com/partners/pbppxt/epaper/edivions/
as a valid vote, and Florida law not. happens in precinct in every clear: ballots must be We understand, and understand personally, that it is frustrating lose by a narrow margin. But it happens. It happened to the Republican candidates in 1960 and 1976. Both Vice President Nixon and President Ford put country's first. accepted vote for the good of the country. It is important that there be some finality to election process. What if we insisted on recounts other states that are close? For example, in Wisconsin, (and we don't New Let country step back moment, pause, and think about what's at stake. This may be the last chance. There is no end to if it away. purpose our national election establish a "Constitutional government," not unending will therefore vigorously oppose the Gore campaign's efforts keep recounting it likes the result. For the of the country and the sake of our in the world, the campaigning should end, and the business of an orderly transition should 2 STATEMENT FROM BUSH DIRECTOR KAREN HUGHES: vote on night Governor Bush Florida's election, and a recount has now confirmed his victory. The votes left to be counted are the overseas absentee ballots, the have favored Republican Bob Dole carried the ballots Florida in 1996 by of to though lost election in Florida. We Vice President Gore and his will reconsider their threats recounts, which could undermine the constitutional process of a President and has no foreseeable end." 3 Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau NORTH FLORIDA COUNTY TRIES TO FILL BLANKS ON
 as a valid vote, and
Florida law SpecificalLy doeS noT.  It HaPpenS in eVery
precinct in EVery Election.  And the procedurE is clEaR:  thesE
BaLlots Must be dISrEGArdEd.

we UndErSTaNd, and i unDerstanD personallY, thAt It is
frustratINg To lose by a nArrOw margin.  But iT haPpens.  IT
hAppENed to The repubLican PREsidenTial candiDaTEs in 1960 anD
1976.  both VicE pReSideNt Nixon and PresideNT FORd put the
countrY's inteReST fIRSt.  THey Accepted thE vOte foR The good
OF tHE COunTRy.

It is importaNt that there BE soMe finaLiTy tO The eleCtion
PrOCesS.  What if we inSistEd on recouNts in oTHer statES that
arE very cLosE?  FoR exaMPlE, iN WiScONsiN, ioWa, (aND if We
don't wiN) NEw mexicO.

Let THE COuntRy sTep bAck a mOment, pause, and ThiNk abOUt
wHat's aT stakE.  ThiS mAy be tHe last ChancE.  THere is no
reasonaBle eNd to this pRocEsS if It Slips AWay.

The PurPosE of our nAtional ELecTiON IS tO establish a
"ConstitUtIONaL governmEnt," not UNeNdINg legal wRaNglIng.  WE
WIll thErefORe VigorousLy oppoSE tHe gore camPaIgn's efFoRts To
kEep reCOuntIng untIl it likeS the rESult.  For the good OF the
country anD ThE SAkE Of ouR stAnding in the WorlD, The
cAmpaIGnIng SHould End, anD tHE bUSiness of an orderly
trAnSition ShoulD begin.

_________________________________________________________________

2
STATEMEnT FROM BUSH commUNICATIoNS DirEctOR KAREN HUGHES:

"the voTe count on TUEsday nigHt shoWed GoverNor Bush woN
fLorida's eLecTioN, anD a rECOuNt has now confiRMEd hiS vIctory.
THe oNly voteS leFt tO be CouNtEd are the oVerseas aBsEnTeE
bAllOts, whICh in the pAsT haVe FavOred REPublicAn canDidaTeS.
BOB DoLe carriED tHE OverSeAs BallOts In floriDa in 1996 BY a
mArgin of 54 To 40 percent, EveN ThouGh He Lost the Election in
FloRiDa.  We hope ViCe preSident gORe and his Campaign will
reconsider tHEir threAts Of lawSuitS or still mOre RecounTs,
wHIch couLd undeRmine ThE coNSTitutIONaL prOcEss of selecTINg a
presiDeNt anD has no fOreseeable end."

_________________________________________________________________

3

Palm BEAch post Capital BuReaU
NORth fLoRIda CouNTy TriES to fILL IN BLANKS ON BaLLOTS
http://WwW.GoPbi.com/partNErs/PbPost/epaPer/editIons/
 as a valid vote, and
Flor ida law sp ecifi cal lydo es n ot. It happens in ever y
precinct in every el ectio n.  And th e pro cedurei sc l ear : T hes eb al lotsmus t be di sregarded. 

W eunderstand,a nd  I underst and  personally,  th at itis 
fr u strat ing  to l ose by a narr ow margin .But it happens .  I t
ha ppened to the Rep u bl i can Presidenti al can di d at e s  in  19 60 and
197 6.   Bot h  Vice P r es i d e ntN ixon and Pres ident Fordp utthe
co un try ' s inte restfi r st.   They acce pted  the vote  for t h e goodo f the c ountry .
Itis i m po rt ant  t h att he reb e s ome fina li ty  to t he e l e c t ionpro cess .  Wh at if we insi ste d on rec ounts  in o ther  s tates  thatare v er y close?  For e xamp le, in Wi sco ns in,  I owa,( and if  we 
do n't win ) New M e xic o. L et  the country stepba c k  a  moment,  pause ,  a nd think ab ou t
w hat' s at st ake.  T his maybe the la st  chance . There  i s n o
r eason a bleend to  this pr ocess if it slips aw a y.

The purpo s eo f  o u r na tio nal electio n is to e stab l is h a "Cons titut io n al government," not un en ding l egalwrangling.  W e
will the r e f ore vigo rous l yo ppose the Gore  camp aign's eff o rts to
k eep r ecountin g until i t likes th e r esu lt.   F o r  t he good of th e coun tr y and t hesake of  ou r s tan din gin the wo rld, the 
c am pa ig nin g sho u ld end,an d t he  bu sines s  of an  orde rlytr an s iti on shou l db e gin. 
__ ____ ___ __ _____ ____ _ ___ _______ _________ ___ _ ____ __ __ _______ ______

2
STA TE MENT FROMBU SHCOMMUN I C ATIONS D IRECTOR KAREN HUGHES:
" The vot e c ounton T uesday ni ght  showe d G o vernor  Bushwon
F lo rid a ' s ele c t io n,an d a recoun t has  nowco nfir med his  victory.
The only vot es left to be  co unte d ar e t h eo ver se a s a b s entee
ballots,which in t he pa st have fa v ore dRepubli can can didat e s.
BobDole carr ied the o ve rsea s bal lots in Fl orida in  1996 bya 
marg i nof 54  to  40 pe rc ent , eve n thou g h h e los t theel ection  in
F lo rida.  W e hope Vice President G ore an d his  ca mpaign wi llr eco nsider th eirthreats of  la wsu its o r s t ill m orer ec oun t s,
wh ichc ould unde r mi net h econstitutio n a l  pr ocess  of select inga
President and h a s no foreseeab le e n d ."
__ _ ____ __ ______________ ___ __ _ _ ________ __ ___________ ________ __ _ ___
3

Pal m Beac h PostC a pi t al Bur eauNOR TH FLORID A C OU N TY TRIE STO FILL I N BL AN KS ONBALLOT S 
htt p : //www.gopbi.com/ partn e r s/pbp o st/ epape r/ edition s /
 as_a valid_vote, and
Florida law specifically_does not.__It happens_in_every
precinct in every_election.  And_the procedure is clear:_ These
ballots must_be_disregarded.

We understand, and I understand personally, that it is
frustrating to lose by a narrow_margin._ But_it_happens._ It
happened to the Republican_Presidential candidates in 1960 and
1976._ Both_Vice President Nixon and President Ford put the
country's_interest_first.  They_accepted the vote for the good
of the country.

It is_important that there be some finality_to the election
process.__What_if we insisted on_recounts in other states that
are very_close?  For example, in Wisconsin,_Iowa, (and if we
don't win) New Mexico.

Let_the country step back a moment,_pause, and think about
what's at_stake. _This may be the last_chance.  There_is no
reasonable_end to this_process if it slips away.

The purpose_of our national_election is to establish a
"Constitutional government,"_not_unending legal wrangling.__We
will_therefore vigorously_oppose the Gore_campaign's_efforts to
keep_recounting_until it likes the result. _For_the good of the
country and the sake_of our standing in_the_world, the
campaigning should end,_and the business of an_orderly
transition should begin.

_________________________________________________________________

2
STATEMENT FROM BUSH COMMUNICATIONS_DIRECTOR KAREN_HUGHES:

"The vote_count on Tuesday night showed Governor Bush won
Florida's election, and a_recount has now confirmed his victory.
The_only votes left to_be counted_are_the overseas absentee
ballots,_which_in the_past have favored Republican candidates.
Bob Dole carried_the overseas_ballots in Florida in 1996 by_a
margin of 54 to_40_percent, even though he lost the_election in
Florida.  We hope Vice_President Gore and his campaign_will
reconsider_their_threats of lawsuits or still_more recounts,
which could undermine the constitutional_process of selecting_a
President and has no foreseeable end."

_________________________________________________________________

3

Palm Beach_Post_Capital Bureau
NORTH FLORIDA COUNTY TRIES TO_FILL_IN BLANKS ON BALLOTS
http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/