Candidates Lay Low as Recount Begins
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: While the vote counting gets under way again in Florida, the two key players are laying low after this week's legal and emotional roller coaster. In Washington, Al Gore has no public schedule and CNN's Patty Davis is outside the vice presidential mansion. And Texas Governor George W. Bush is spending some of the weekend in the solitude of his 1,600 acre ranch. CNN's Tony Clark is in Austin. Patty, let's begin with you. What's the latest from that front?</s>PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is new life for Vice President Al Gore with that Florida Supreme Court ruling after a string of setbacks. The campaign had been bracing for whatever was to come its way and said it was obviously pleased yesterday when the ruling came down in its favor. Now the Vice President heard the news in his library. His campaign chairman, Bill Daley, came out and talked to the cameras and our producer up there listening to that statement as it was delivered said that there were cheers as Bill Daley walked back into Vice President Al Gore's residence. Now today the Gore lawyers, as we've told you throughout this early morning here, are filing in various courts to keep this recount going on as scheduled. Politically for Vice President Al Gore, a major lifeline thrown his way. Many Democrats on Capitol Hill had been ready to abandon the Vice President. Now many say they will stick with him a while longer -- Kyra.</s>PHILLIPS: Lots of emotional activity. Now, Tony, on the other front I was reading in "The New York Times" that a Bush aide said we simply have no reactions left.</s>TONY CLARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're trained. This has been such a roller coaster ride. You know, everybody's emotions were up very high yesterday after the Circuit Court decisions. In fact, there were parties, I talked to one aide in Florida, another at the press office here, they were all excited. One aide said two down one to go. And then the Supreme Court decision came down and even though the campaign has learned over the last month to be cautious, don't take anything for granted, there was a very upbeat feeling. And then after the Supreme Court decision, I mean, it was like, I said earlier it was like the wind got knocked out of them. They've had to pick themselves up and go back to work again. But, you know, it was a big disappointment nonetheless, Kyra.</s>PHILLIPS: Well, and now the next move for the Bush camp, U.S. Supreme Court. The core of their argument, will it be the issue of a standard, standards, lack thereof?</s>CLARK: Well, yeah. That's one of the arguments. Another argument, that the Florida Supreme Court didn't have the authority to do what it did. That was one of the arguments that Barry Richard made the other day in another motion. And so they're going to continue to fight. In fact, Barry Richard, one of their lead attorneys, said they've argued so many of these points in so many different courts it's almost like cut and paste. You find out what the particular opinion is that you're fighting or trying to support and you just cut and paste the decision. As for the Governor himself, you know, yesterday morning he was meeting with some of his aides over at the mansion. He was very upbeat. He was talking about wanting to give the announcements about who was going to be part of his White House staff and then the Florida Supreme Court decision came down. James Baker talked to him afterwards, said he's still upbeat, still thinks he's going to be the next president of United States. But I'll tell you, Kyra, there was a party over at the mansion last night for his personal staff and the Secret Service security detail. I'm sure it was not nearly the kind of party that they were hoping it would be over at the mansion.</s>PHILLIPS: Yeah, definitely. And even Gore was stringing Christmas lights I understand. Patty Davis, Tony Clark, thank you very much. We will check in with you guys a bit later.