The Democrats Challenge Bush's Florida Victory
Feeling that a corrupt decision in Florida stole that state from Gore, and in turn took the presidency from the man who won the popular vote, the Democratic Party decides to mount a major legal campaign.
Gore himself stays in the background, preferring to look presidential and let various proxies do the legal and political work. (His model in this case is Richard Nixon, who allowed his representatives to contest the 1960 election after he conceded to Kennedy.) The Democratic Party and several Florida Democrats have filed lawsuits.
The lawsuits question the legality of certain ballots that were disqualified. The Democrats also go to court over the legality of the strange ballot that apparently confused lots of voters into voting for Buchanan; it might have violated Florida state law. And to back up their Florida fight, the Democrats decide to contest other states, too, such as Missouri, where there were serious Election Day fights over keeping the polling places open and other irregularities.
| Do the Democratic challenges succeed? |
(1) NO. Despite the Democrats' best efforts, the Bush victory in Florida sticks. Click here to continue.
(2) YES. After furious litigation, the Democrats succeed in contesting Bush's Florida victory. Click here to continue.