Battle of the Stars and Stripes

Now that the tallying of Florida ballots is up to the courts, it’s time to start counting flags. Although the results aren’t yet certified, George W. Bush and running mate Dick Cheney lead Al Gore and Joseph I. Lieberman by a razor-thin margin of two American flags. The Republicans pulled ahead Monday, when Cheney spoke at a news conference backed by 14 U.S. flags, a possible Guinness world record.

Gore quickly fought back with a televised address from his living room in front of 12 flags. He and Lieberman have vowed to continue the fight, but they face an uphill battle. Political pundits say the Democratic Party has never fully recovered from the Vietnam War era, when flag-burning protesters depleted party stockpiles. However, Gore and Lieberman may have the edge on another front: finishing the most speeches with the phrase “God bless America.”