Frank Buckley on Republican protesters and Gore's legal challenge in Miami-Dade County

Frank Buckley

CNN Correspondent Frank Buckley has been covering the Florida recount from Miami-Dade County, where Republican protesters Wednesday stormed the canvassing board office before it decided to permanently halt a hand vote recount. Democratic leaders have expressed outrage, asking the U.S. Justice Department to investigate.

Q: Was there an attempt by the protesters, as Democrats have said, to intimidate the canvassing board?

Buckley: The question is out there: Was this an attempt to intimidate the board? The Republicans said it wasn't. The board chairman said it was not intimidating, it was just a question of logistics and time.

Q: Were most of the protesters Wednesday at the Miami-Dade canvassing board paid campaign workers or are they volunteers?

Buckley: It's hard to say whether or not most of them are one or the other. There were both volunteers and paid people protesting on that day, as well as pro-Bush and pro-Cheney people. I could see people that I know who are paid political operatives as well as protesters who simply were taking part to express their opinions.

Q: What's the next step for you in covering this story?

Buckley: We're going to stay in Miami to monitor the Gore campaign's legal challenge to the Miami-Dade County canvassing board's decision not to hold a hand vote recount.

Q: Why is the Gore campaign planning to contest Miami-Dade's decision?