The Florida Vote: Bush Camp Adds Lawyers to Fight Contested Ballot Certification
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's just 21 days after the presidential election, and the legal maneuverings are gaining speed and urgency this week.</s>KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, just about an hour ago, former secretary of state James Baker introduced an expanded legal team for the Bush campaign. The men say they will focus on setting the record straight, and dispel what they say are myths set forth by the Gore campaign. Legal teams from both campaigns have until 4:00 Eastern to file briefs with the U.S. Supreme court. Justices there are due to hear arguments Friday on the Bush challenge, which is seeking to invalidate the hand recounts in Florida.</s>KAGAN: And, as I understand it, one of those new attorneys that has just signed on with the Bush campaign is now with my partner my partner Bill Hemmer down in Tallahassee, so let's go down there. Bill, good morning once again.</s>BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, thank you, good morning to you. We're going to welcome and introduce Irv Terrell in just a second, but before we do that, want to show our viewers the latest videotape today out of Austin, Texas. Governor Bush this morning, heading into the state capitol grounds there in Austin, about to go about the daily business there -- the demands of a governor. Here he is arriving in his Chevy Suburban just a short time ago; and as you well know, over the past three weeks there have been various photo opportunities, not only of Governor Bush but also the Vice President Al Gore in a number of different scenarios. We saw him yesterday, moving about in different areas. There in Austin I believe that's Andy Card, the first gentleman out, with the red tie there in the front of you screen. And off to the left we should see George W. Bush -- indeed, we do now. Again, a short time ago, heading into the state capitol, coming over from his home there -- the governor's mansion in Austin; and, as is customary, a few waves of reporters standing nearby, perhaps a word or two, but not much said here. Again, in was late Sunday night when the Texas governor did come out and address the nation after the certification -- did come back by the state canvassing commission here in Tallahassee. That's what we know out of Austin. Now back to Tallahassee -- Irv Terrell, one of the latest lawyers on the scene, now with us live here. Welcome to town, first of all.</s>G. IRVIN TERRELL, BUSH CAMPAIGN ATTORNEY: Thank you.</s>HEMMER: I have joked that there are a lot of attorneys in Florida and they're kind of like alligators, and there's a lot of alligators right now; take no offense. But we heard you an hour ago -- talked about the myths, et cetera in this campaign. Before we get to the specific issues on that, in 1993, a case with American Airlines, you defeated a gentleman by the name of David Boies...</s>TERRELL: That's true.</s>HEMMER: ... who's been here for three weeks. Some label you as the Boies killer in this.</s>TERRELL: That would be probably wrong. I think that all great trial lawyers lose cases. David has lost at least that case, and I've lost cases.</s>HEMMER: Your purpose here today was to talk about, what you allege, are myths in the Gore campaign.</s>TERRELL: Yes.</s>HEMMER: Lay out the strategy here. Why do you believe this contest period should be shot down?</s>TERRELL: I think that the contest period ought to take the full time until December 12. If that's -- if I understand your question correctly --because we have to have sufficient time to put on our evidence and make our arguments. In fact, in the only contest that's reached the Supreme Court before this one that had any notoriety, involved the sheriff. That was in 1998. And in that trial, they accorded both sides one week to put on evidence. I would hope that, when we're talking about the presidency of the United States, we would not do less than that. We have a number of witnesses that we're considering, depending on what witnesses and what approaches the other side takes that we think the court needs to hear from.</s>HEMMER: Yesterday in circuit court here, the Gore campaign took a lawsuit against three different counties here in Florida, you know that. Today they have filed a petition, again, to speed up the process. Democrats say you're just trying to slow things down, run out the clock until that December 12 deadline. Is there a legitimate claim in that?</s>TERRELL: No; in fact, anyone who saw the court proceeding yesterday saw that we proposed certain dates, and those dates were shorter and faster than the ones that the judge was talking about and, in fact, that he imposed. And the reason I think he imposed longer dates is because the counties also have to be heard as well, and they don't have the armies of lawyers that the campaigns have and that, I guess, some called the sharks that are swimming around Tallahassee.</s>HEMMER: We have talked throughout the morning here with different guests here on CNN about the big gorilla that hangs out there, that's the U.S. Supreme Court. And, again, we're chasing a lot of legal ends here in Tallahassee. Could that court come in and blow all this stuff right out of the water?</s>TERRELL: It's possible; and I don't -- I have not been the one charged with the responsibility of the U.S. Supreme Court case. But if the U.S. Supreme Court were to find that the Florida Supreme court's decision to extend the time for looking at additional ballots by two weeks, contrary to what we think the Florida statute says -- if they say that's improper, then it could very possibly be a situation where it's over.</s>HEMMER: The state legislature's going to get together, at least a committee, anyway -- members of the House and Senate, are going to talk about the potential for a special session. Have you advised this group in Florida? Do you plan on talking with them in any fashion?</s>TERRELL: I've not been asked to do that and, as I've not been asked to get involved in the U.S. Supreme Court case. My job is to be here in the circuit court and then, if necessary, in higher courts in Florida in order to win the election contest. And I think that we are going to win it.</s>HEMMER: Irv Terrell, welcome to Tallahassee once again. Appreciate your time.</s>TERRELL: Thank you.