Gore May Continue His Fight

Dec. 13 -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of George W. Bush, but sources close to the vice president say don’t bet on Al Gore conceding — at least not yet.

While aides close to Gore say they expect he could give up the fight for the White House, they also note he hasn’t shared his thinking with many people and that nothing will be decided until later this morning at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Gore campaign officials and lawyers pore over the Supreme Court ruling.

“Al Gore and Joe Lieberman are now reviewing the 5-4 decision issued tonight by the Supreme Court of the United States,” the campaign said in a statement late Tuesday. “The decision is both complex and lengthy. It will take some time to completely analyze this opinion. We will address the Court’s decision in full detail at a time to be determined [Wednesday].”

And a source close to Gore said he hadn’t decided to make a concession speech. “He’s speaking tomorrow, but he hasn’t decided what he’s going to say. So don’t read too much into it,” the source told ABCNEWS.

Gore’s wife, Tipper, tried to be a calming spirit for those among her husband’s aides, paging one with the message: “Hang tight with me. We’re trying to figure it out.”

Jubilant GOPMeanwhile, jubilant GOP supporters trumpeted the Supreme Court’s ruling as a clear indication that their man had won. Former Secretary of State James Baker, a senior adviser to Bush, said he spoke to both the Texas governor and his running mate, Dick Cheney.

“They are of course very pleased and gratified that seven justices of the United States Supreme Court agreed there were constitutional problems with the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court,” he said. While the court ruled 5-4 in favor of Bush, two dissenting justices noted questions about the constitutionality of the Florida court’s ruling last week to allow hand recounts of votes in all of Florida’s 67 counties.

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