Letter: People have chosen Gore

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

By carrying the popular vote across our nation, Gore was the choice of the people. That much is clear. And while it is true that our nation chooses presidents not by popular vote, but by electoral vote, on that front as well, Al Gore is the winner.

Without Florida, Al Gore has more electoral votes than George Bush. In fact, assuming his lead in Oregon holds up, Gore would be just 3 votes shy of victory. George Bush, on the other hand, would be 24 electoral votes shy of victory without Florida.

When it comes to Florida, the vote is simply too close to call, and the controversies too serious to make a fair judgment as to the winner. Even Pat Buchanan himself believes that Gore was the choice of the people. The reasonable solution? Split Florida's electoral vote right down the middle, and award half to Gore, and half to Bush. And by virtue of his success elsewhere, Al Gore would then have enough electors to win the presidency.

Morally and legally, Al Gore was the choice of the people. It is time for George W. Bush to do the honorable thing, to step aside, and to urge the American people -- all the American people -- to back Al Gore as president.

TARA MILNER