Patty Davis monitors the Gore camp’s mood

December 8, 2000
Web posted at: 7:07 p.m. EST (0007 GMT)

Patty Davis

CNN Correspondent Patty Davis was standing outside Vice President Al Gore’s residence in Washington when the Florida Supreme Court issued its ruling.

Q: What was the reaction there when the state high court issued its ruling?

DAVIS: As the Florida Supreme Court ruling came down, a group of Gore supporters in front of his residence in Washington erupted in cheers. Cars, as they went by, started honking. The Gore team is clearly elated that it has gotten this big break from the Florida Supreme Court.

The lawyers from the Gore campaign were watching the announcement from the state Supreme Court in a room together and they erupted in loud cheers. A CNN team in Tallahassee tells us that the vice president called almost immediately and he congratulated them and said, ‘Let’s get counting.’

A lot of Democrats on Capitol Hill had been privately saying that the case before the Florida state Supreme Court was Al Gore’s last hurrah. If he hadn’t won the case, they were going to be calling on him to concede.

Now, that he has won this big ruling Democrats are rallying. Democratic leaders Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt have issued a statement praising the ruling. This ruling has ensured Democratic support for a few more days. The Gore campaign hopes it will also shore up public support, which has been lagging in recent days.

Earlier in the day, there was a lot of speculation about a concession speech by Vice President Gore, but the Gore aides said all along that he wasn’t even considering one – that he was waiting for the Florida Supreme Court ruling. And voila, the court ruled in his favor.

So, the Gore campaign is absolutely elated.

Q: What’s the Gore strategy from here?

DAVIS: Their strategy all along has been to get this count started. They believe that there are enough undervotes for Vice President Al Gore to move ahead of Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The Gore campaign believes the Florida Supreme Court decision could likely result in Vice President Gore winning Florida, and ultimately the presidency.

In terms of a statewide recount, the Gore campaign says the vice president offered that many weeks ago and it had been turned down by the Bush campaign. So, they say they are not afraid of a statewide recount.