>>I think that it will be very interesting to see if any federal court (state courts won't matter as the losing side will certainly appeal) will be willing to overturn Ms. Harris' discretionary right, again under Florida law, to disallow the recounted votes.
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>Federal courts do not automatically hear appeals. And when they do, as in the on-going case of "Spiegel vs Lepore" in the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, they may simply allow the state decision to stand.
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>I think the final call will be made by the Florida Supreme Court. And, I think they will compel the State Elections Canvassing Commission to include the revised counts from Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
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>Peter

For such a hotly contested race? With such far reaching implications? We're not talking about John Doe vs. Robert Roe... this is the Presidency on the line. I think they'll hear it, but again it comes down to the Democrats having to prove that Harris violated state "trust" in not allowing the counts to be added.

Consider: Very few counties are recounting, not even all *Democrat* counties in the state are willing to recount, the process is subjective at best (and ludicrously slow), and few votes are being added to Gore's column... it's not exactly a groundswell in favor of Gore, which is what I think the Democrats are going to have to show, that Harris is trying to slam the door shut on a flood of Gore votes.

IMO, it looks bleak for Gore unless they can get more counties to recount (hence last night's "proposal"), it's a *fast* recount with a high percentage completed come court time, and there are real gains against Bush's lead... not drips and drops of a few votes, but something that actually threatens the lead. Personally, I'd like to see a statewide recount, with standards agreed to by both parties. Unfortunately, it ain't gonna happen.