The Gore lawyers said the Florida court simply "interpreted Florida law."

"The most harmful thing was the stops and starts caused by the elections decisions from Harris's office," said Mr. Newton, the Gore lawyer.

The Gore lawyers emphasized the possibilities for error by voters.

The Gore lawyers argued that "the present case is totally different" from the earlier case.

Further, the Gore lawyers assert that the Bush position fundamentally misunderstands Section 5 as a law that requires compliance or can be violated.

The Bush team scaled back some demands that Gore lawyers had asserted would excessively delay proceedings.

Some of their work was done by the Gore lawyers, who, true to their strategy, challenged hundreds of overseas ballots with little discrimination.

Whether the Gore lawyers would have stretched as far, I don't know.

The Gore lawyers said that in any event it was the Florida Legislature itself that had passed the state constitutional provision governing appellate jurisdiction.

Several Gore lawyers and strategists said that little thought was given at the time to requesting a statewide recount.

The Gore lawyers said the Florida court simply "interpreted Florida law."

"The most harmful thing was the stops and starts caused by the elections decisions from Harris's office," said Mr. Newton, the Gore lawyer.

The Gore lawyers emphasized the possibilities for error by voters.

The Gore lawyers argued that "the present case is totally different" from the earlier case.

Further, the Gore lawyers assert that the Bush position fundamentally misunderstands Section 5 as a law that requires compliance or can be violated.

The Bush team scaled back some demands that Gore lawyers had asserted would excessively delay proceedings.

Some of their work was done by the Gore lawyers, who, true to their strategy, challenged hundreds of overseas ballots with little discrimination.

Whether the Gore lawyers would have stretched as far, I don't know.

The Gore lawyers said that in any event it was the Florida Legislature itself that had passed the state constitutional provision governing appellate jurisdiction.

Several Gore lawyers and strategists said that little thought was given at the time to requesting a statewide recount.