Mood Seesaws From Jubilation to Despair at Bush Headquarters

The day began with whoops and exclamations of joy when one set of Florida rulings went their way.

It ended with long faces and outrage here--the speculation about when and where to hold a George W. Bush victory rally replaced with a renewed uncertainty about the election’s outcome.

Bush staffers seemed stunned by the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Vice President Al Gore, some smashing their fists on desks at Bush headquarters, others stalking away from a television in disgust.

Karen Hughes, Texas Gov. Bush’s campaign spokeswoman and a shoo-in for a top White House position should her candidate prevail, walked briskly to the back of the office. Coffee in hand and young son by her side, Hughes looked straight ahead as she passed reporters clustered outside the room’s glass doors.

She was quickly followed by aides headed to the Bush camp’s war room in the marble-and-glass skyscraper just blocks from the Texas Capitol. Suddenly, staffers who had only minutes earlier been cheerfully chatting about transition prospects closed ranks behind locked doors.

‘All Reaction Is Coming From Florida’

There was no official response from Austin headquarters to the legal setback Friday night.

“All reaction is coming from Florida,” said an aide in the press office.

The decision earlier Friday by two Florida judges not to throw out thousands of absentee votes in Seminole and Martin counties had brought the chance of a decisive victory tantalizingly close.

With a final legal hurdle to go before the Florida Supreme Court, many in the Bush campaign were ebullient. The more cautious said the ups and downs of the past month made them reluctant to get too excited. “I’m mentally prepared for this to go into January,” said Bush spokeswoman Mindy Tucker.

Bush had indicated Friday morning, even before the first Florida rulings were announced, that he was optimistic that Gore might soon throw in the towel.

“We are hopeful that we’ll finally see some finality when it comes to this election,” he told reporters gathered at the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

Bush had seemed increasingly confident and in good cheer in recent days. “It’s time to get on with America’s business,” he said.

Asked whether he would concede if court cases went against him, however, Bush demurred, saying he was prepared to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“But I hope that doesn’t have to happen,” he said. By late afternoon, it became clear that that was exactly what Bush would need to do.

And minutes after the Florida Supreme Court ordered statewide recounts, the switchboard at headquarters lit up with calls from angry Republicans.

“It’s unbelievable, sir, I know,” the receptionist said to one caller.

The shift in mood from morning to afternoon was stark.

As he has done all week, Bush spoke about his transition plans to reporters who met with him early in the day in a small room at the mansion. He was joined by his pick for White House chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., as well as Hughes and another top advisor, Karl Rove.

Bush said that if he emerged the clear victor, as he believed he would, he should be able to name senior White House staff quickly. He even joked about his picks.

“I haven’t decided on a couple of them,” he said, glancing over at Hughes and Rove. “I don’t know whether or not they can pass the background checks, if you know what I mean.”

He said that at an “appropriate time” he would also lay out a timetable for Cabinet appointees.

“We’ve been somewhat hampered,” he said. “You know, it’s hard to really be conducting a series of interviews--formal interviews with people--until the election is over.”

Bush Offers Solution to Voting Problems

Asked about reports in Florida that African American voters had systematically been denied the right to vote, Bush pointed out that African American turnout in the state where his younger brother is the governor “was huge.”

“The increase was significant over previous years,” he said. “But you know, obviously, anybody who had a chance--anybody who was denied a right to vote--is something that, you know, we’ve got to be concerned about.”

Bush said he did not believe possible disenfranchisement of such voters compromised the election. Pressed on what he would do to correct voting problems in the future, he said: “Make sure they got to vote.”

After sunset in the Texas capital, Bush and his wife, Laura, held a holiday party at his residence for mansion staff and his protective details.

Aides had said Bush might stay in Austin if a concession from Gore appeared possible. But with the afternoon’s turn of events, the governor’s original plan to head to his ranch this morning was back in place.