Ken,

I seem to recall that if Florida has not certified their count by that date (Dec 18) then only the certified votes count - Gore wins - unless New Mexico or some other state hasn't certified by then.

Personally I think the current tactic is to delay, not win. By delaying they win by default.

Pretty partisan and nasty if you ask me.



>Your right, 17th for manual votes...
>
>I just swiped the following from: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/election2000.htm
>
>there is no resolution to the Florida election by December 18 (the date set for the Electoral College to meet), will Florida's voters be left out of the selection of the president? [added November 13]
>
>The United States Code [Title 3, section 2] provides, "Whenever any State has held an election for the purpose of choosing electors, and has failed to make a choice on the day prescribed by law, the electors may be appointed on a subsequent day in such a manner as the legislature of such State may direct." Under this provision, the Florida Legislature is authorized to enact a fall-back plan for the appointment of Florida's electors if, for some reason, a definitive result from Election Day has not been established.
>
>If there is no conclusive result from either the Electoral College or otherwise by Inauguration Day (January 20, 2001), who will become President? [added November 13]
>
>Under the 20th Amendment, President Clinton's term expires that day and there is no constitutional provision for it to be extended. If there is a vacancy in the offices of President and Vice President, under the established procedures for presidential succession [Title 3, USC, section 19], the Speaker of the House (upon resignation of that position) would become Acting President until a final conclusion is reached from the election