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Pleased Bush team withholds victory declaration©Associated Press © St. Petersburg Times, published December 13, 2000 AUSTIN, Texas -- Cheers erupted in Bush campaign headquarters Tuesday night after the Supreme Court handed the Texas governor a crucial win in his bid for the presidency, but his aides stopped short of claiming victory in the lengthy election saga. "This has been a long and arduous process for everyone involved on both sides," former Secretary of State James Baker, Bush's point man on the Florida recount, declared Tuesday night. Baker emerged in Tallahassee more than an hour after the nation's high court reversed Florida's Supreme Court ruling allowing more recounts in the state. He chose his words carefully as the Bush camp waited for Gore to decide whether to concede. Baker said Bush and running mate Dick Cheney are "very pleased and gratified that seven justices of the United States Supreme Court agreed that there were constitutional problems with the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court." Aides said Bush wasn't planning to make a statement before Gore's planned reaction today. If Gore concedes, Bush planned a unifying speech that would be low-key and gracious in tone, aides said. As news spread that the Supreme Court had handed the Texas governor a crucial victory in his bid for the presidency, Bush aides became more animated. But, following Baker's lead, they toned down their enthusiasm as it became clear Gore wasn't about to concede immediately. Cheney was at home and learned of the decision from television. Press aide Juleanna Glover Weiss said the former defense secretary was pleased with the decision. "Right now he thinks it's very good news," she said. Cheney had planned to visit GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill today. Weiss said she was unsure of whether he would. A handful of Bush supporters made their way to the Governor's Mansion after the ruling in a freezing rain, and some drivers honked their horns. Kelly Atkinson, 19, a University of Texas student, said she was pleased with the ruling but unsure if Bush would win. "I'm pessimistic because it's been so hard for so long," she said. "I feel like it's never going to end." Earlier, Bush had stayed home, skipping his usual two-block trip to his state Capitol office as wintry weather spread through Texas and bore down on the capital. He also sent home his office staff, and schools were closed early in advance of forecast freezing rain and an ice storm. Also because of the weather, he canceled his daily physical exercise visit to the University of Texas but worked out on a treadmill at the Governor's Mansion. Late in the day, Bush came out of his house to walk the short distance to a carriage house, where he keeps exercise equipment. He later returned to the main house, dressed in workout clothes, wearing a cowboy hat and carrying a broken tennis racket. The governor spent much of his day on the phone with advisers. Bartlett said Bush "was gratified by" a Florida Supreme Court ruling upholding a state court's refusal to disqualify thousands of absentee ballots in two Florida counties. As to votes in the GOP-led Florida Legislature to rally behind Bush and select electors loyal to Bush, Bartlett said, "We've said all along that members of the Florida Legislature are going to execute what they believe are their constitutional responsibilities." Cheney, who is heading Bush's transition effort, had planned to meet today with Republicans on Capitol Hill to talk about reaching out to moderate Republicans and Democrats if a Bush victory is confirmed. He planned to hold sessions with Rep. Chris Cox, R-Calif., and Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. He also planned a lunch with GOP moderates, including Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, James Jeffords of Vermont and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. Bush was working on a speech that will seek to encourage a national coming-together after the bitter battle over who won Florida's 25 electoral votes, and with them the presidency, aides said. Michigan's Republican governor, Gov. John Engler, said he's helping Cheney and Andrew Card, Bush's choice for White House chief of staff, as they search for possible appointees for a Bush administration.
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