The Election Recount

At long last, the consortium-sponsored media recount of the 2000 Florida presidential election has ended, and, after 10 months of investigation and almost $1 million invested, the results have proven that the real winner is … uh, well … jeez, we're just going to have to get back to you on that one.

Actually, according to statewide review of all of the 175, 000 contested ballots, both the overvotes (ballots that seemed to show a preference for more than one candidate) and the undervotes (ballots that appeared to reveal no choice), Gore would have won by anywhere from 42 to 171 votes, depending on the counting method employed. Yet, if either of the recount strategies proposed by the Gore camp were enacted, Bush would still be the winner. The study did prove, however, that confusing ballot designs did work to Bush's advantage.

Regardless, the question still doesn't seem to be conclusively settled and, of course, with other news items in the foreground -- the crash of flight 587 and the Taliban fleeing Kabul -- and with the President's approval rating soaring near 90 percent, the latest recount news hasn't made much of a splash. Also, many news organizations have significantly backed off the story, stating that interest in determining the truth behind the 2000 election has waned significantly. But the question still remains: "Will we ever know, without a doubt, who really won?" At this point, it seems like the answer is "probably not."

Despite the recount's inconclusive results and the current lack of substantial post-election hubbub, a new batch of election 2000 books has flooded the shelves in the last few months, examining the dilemma from a number of angles. Below is a sampling of such titles, all exploring one of the strangest elections in American history.

Too Close To Call
by Jeffrey Toobin
In Too Close to Call, Toobin, the author of A Vast Conspiracy, chronicles all of the major decisions and follows all of the key players in the 36-day battle for the Oval Office. Reading like a thrilling page-turner, the book reveals much of the behind-the-scenes action that shaped the hectic struggle, and analyzes the strategies of both the Bush and Gore camps. Was the wrong man inaugurated into office? Toobin thinks so, and the argument he provides in Too Close To Call is certainly a compelling one.

The Accidental President
by David A. Kaplan
Lawyers, lawyers, and more lawyers. Kaplan counts 413, and they all had a hand in deciding the fate of the 2000 election. To Kaplan, the final decision was the product of a dizzying series of circumstances that ended up in Bush's favor. A Newsweek writer, Kaplan details the many folly-filled events that led to Bush landing in the White House in a gripping and highly readable fashion. No one comes out clean in the fiasco that is portrayed in The Accidental President, but their foibles are certainly fascinating.

The Perfect Tie
by James W. Ceaser and Andrew E. Busch
Ceaser and Busch (both political science professors) argue that, with the electorate in Florida evenly divided between Bush- and Gore-supporters, the campaign efforts of each candidate were more consequential than in past elections. They also take a look at pre-campaign fund-raising, post-election strategies, and everything in between. Their conclusions are fascinating, non-partisan, and clear-headed in comparison to much of the punditry and pop-analysis that has appeared in the past year, and their research is impeccable. An ideal read for anyone in the mood for a serious and relevant study of politics and elections.

Bush v. Gore
edited by E.J. Dione Jr. and William Kristol
Offering a variety of journalistic perspectives on the legal aspects of the post-election tale as well as legal documents from the major trials involved, Bush v. Gore is a comprehensive anthology that takes an engaging look at the courtroom side of the story. With contributions from Thomas Freidman, Lani Guiner, Scott Turow, Jesse Jackson, and George F. Will (just to name a few), Bush v. Gore compiles an excellent set of essays and articles, and the proceedings make for one heck of a lively debate.

Smashmouth
by Dana Milbank
Irreverent, informative, and probably one of the funniest election books out there, Smashmouth is a cockeyed story of the campaign trail from Washington Post writer Dana Milbank. While "on the bus" with the major candidates, and even some of the minor ones, Milbank scrutinizes each move they make. In the process, he provides an insightful commentary on the art of campaigning. While he doesn't cover the post-election mess, Milbank's effort will prove to be a valuable asset to anyone who's looking for a better understanding of Bush and Gore, and a highly pleasurable read at the same time.