The Long and Winding Road

By Andrew Goldstein

For Gore to win, he needs to survive a bewildering legal obstacle course--not just the U.S. Supreme Court but also the Florida Supremes, Judge N. Sanders Sauls' circuit courtroom, the Florida legislature and even the U.S. Congress. (Of course, there's a chance a judge will throw out all those absentee ballots in Seminole County, which would make the ride a whole lot easier.) If Gore crashes anywhere along the road--or simply moves too slowly--he loses the race. --By Andrew Goldstein

U.S. SUPREME COURT

FINDS FOR GORE! [or] FINDS FOR BUSH! Decides the Florida Supreme Decides that the Florida Court did not usurp the Supreme Court did overstep Florida legislature's power its bounds in extending the when it extended the deadline ballot-counting deadline from Nov. 14 to Nov. 26

Gore loses public and congressional support. The pressure forces him to concede. Bush wins!

[or]

Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, Gore may be able to fight on >>

JUDGE SAULS' COURTROOM

Should the 14,000 disputed ballots in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties be counted and added to the statewide tally? Gore needs a victory here--and fast. This case and all appeals must be resolved by Dec. 12, or he loses. Bush is delaying by raising peripheral questions, calling scads of witnesses and asking for 1.1 million ballots to be counted. Can he run out the clock?

Gore wins: Count the votes! [or] Bush wins: No more counting!

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT FLORIDA SUPREME COURT Bush appeals, asking the Gore appeals, asking the court to overrule Judge court to order that the Sauls and throw out the disputed ballots be counted recounted votes

Bush wins appeal; Gore Gore loses appeal; the loses contest. Bush wins! contest is over. Bush wins!

[or] [or]

Bush loses appeal; the Gore wins appeal; the 14,000 14,000 undervotes will be undervotes will be counted >> counted >>

THE COUNTING

Gore has trailed Bush in all the counts and recounts so far. When the court finally counts the 14,000 disputed ballots, will Gore pick up enough to win?

No. Bush holds his lead; Gore loses contest. Bush wins!

[or]

Yes. Gore takes the lead, wins the contest. The court orders the appointment of Gore electors >>

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

Will the Republican-dominated legislature pick Bush electors regardless of Gore's contest win?

No. It decides to stay out. Gore wins!

[or]

Yes. Two competing slates of electors will vote on Dec. 18. Congress will have to choose which electors' votes to count... >>

U.S. CONGRESS

Both chambers meet on Jan. 5. The Republican-majority House would probably pick Florida's Bush electors. The evenly divided Senate would probably choose Gore's (as Vice President, Gore gets the deciding vote). If this split decision happens, the chief executive of Florida--Jeb Bush--gets to choose which slate to endorse. Will he crown his brother?