"There's a lot of states still in the balance," Bush told reporters at the
governor's mansion. "It's going to be a long night."
Bush's chief campaign strategist Karl Rove condemned media outlets for
giving Florida to Gore in early projections, which were later recanted,
leaving 25 crucial Electoral College votes in play.
"We're going to win Florida," Rove said in a broadcast interview with CNN,
which called Florida for Gore along with other major media outlets,
including United Press International.
Bush campaign officials said they were confident they are going to win
Florida by a 51 percent to 46 percent margin. Additionally, Bush aides say that if
he can win in Wisconsin and Iowa, they believe he will win the election.
With initial returns stacking against him early in the evening, Bush
canceled plans to attend an election watch party Tuesday with relatives and
supporters and instead returned to the governor's mansion to await results
with his parents and wife.
"He preferred to be at home," one of the governor's aides told reporters
as Bush unexpectedly left a large family dinner at a posh Austin restaurant
and went behind closed doors with former President George Bush, former first
lady Barbara Bush and wife Laura.
"His own home was more relaxing," the aide said.
The governor had planned to watch the results with a large group of
staffers and extended family at a nearby hotel, where banks of televisions
were set up to show all the network coverage at once. Some family went to
the hotel without Bush, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Bush changed his plans as news of Gore's alleged win in Florida and surer
victories in Michigan and Pennsylvania reached the governor.
In downtown Austin, an estimated 20,000 Bush supporters massed at the
capitol near the governor's mansion for an election night party, where wild
cheers went up when jumbo television screens on the grounds showed Florida
up for grabs once again.
Live bands quieted as people eagerly awaited further results from the
Midwest and West Coast.
Copyright 2000 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
© 2019 Newsmax. All rights reserved.