Recount

Those are absolutely meaningless.

Who's looking at the polls? I haven't read a poll in at least 15 minutes.

I'm telling you, it's looking good,

but we've got to keep hammering at the undecideds.

Between phone calls I'm praying.

We need to satellite Lieberman to Nevada and Arizona.

We can have it set up by 11:00 if we can talk him into it.

He's walking in right now. Hold on.

Fournier is waiting for you on line two.

Yeah, Fournier, what can I do for you?

Looks like voter turnout's gonna be at an all-time low. Any response?

As I keep saying and I'll continue to say,

the foundation of a democracy is based on its citizens' right to vote.

A.B.C. on three... winning electoral, losing popular.

- Hang on a sec. Yes. - Hi, Ron. A number of the polls

show that Gore will lose the popular vote, but win the electoral college.

What would the Gore response be if this occurred?

The Gore response would be that Governor Bush

is gonna have to respect the electoral process no matter what the outcome.

Fournier, the foundation of our democracy

is based upon the citizens' right to vote.

It is our duty as Americans to fulfill that responsibility.

- C.N.N. on one... the same. - Hang on. Yes.

Looks like you're gonna lose the popular vote...

I know the question. Here's the answer...

Governor Bush is gonna have to respect the electoral process

no matter what the outcome. Fournier...

"It is our duty as Americans to fulfill that responsibility

"because we must never forget that every vote counts."

You're the only liaison I know that actually sounds sincere

when you spew that shit.

- Background? - Yeah, go ahead.

Are you going to join the new administration?

That would depend on the position he offers,

but I don't think he's going to offer me anything.

He's barely spoken to me since I got back to campaign.

- But if he does? - No comment.

- Talk to you later. - Ron Klain's office.

I have a Lester Hyman on two.

Hey Lester, what can I do for you this morning?

If the 32nd precinct opens even one minute late, I swear to god,

I will fly down there with a crowbar and open the goddamn door myself.

Whouley?

Ron, you look like a fuckin' bolshevik.

I just got off the phone with Lester Hyman.

We may have a problem in Palm Beach County.

A bunch of older voters think they accidentally voted

for Pat Buchanan by mistake... and not just a few of 'em, a lot.

- Jeremy... Where is it again? - Palm Beach.

Get me what's-her-name, Theresa Lepore on the phone, please.

We wouldn't be having this problem if you were still running this show.

But since you're not, how about gettin' me a coffee and fuckin' Danish?

- But before I do that... - Yes?

- Are we going to win this thing? - No.

Yes, but it's gonna be a squeaker.

You always said it would come down to Florida.

Yes, I did. Jeremy, Theresa Lepore.

- It's busy. I'm trying. - Well, try harder, please.

- Thanks, man. - No problem.

- Hey, Morehouse. - Hey, Ron.

What happened to your leg?

Twisted my knee getting off air force two.

Did they upgrade you or are you still flying in luggage?

Put some ice on it.

Hey, Ron.

Hold on a sec.

Ron Klain.

- I'm sorry about this. - Hey, no worries.

- Thanks. - That's good.

- Complete this part right here. - Yes, sir.

I'll get it to the Vice President right away.

Good.

Okay.

Look, Ron, I don't want to bullshit you, so let me get right to it.

Roy Neel is putting out feelers for the transition team and

he told me al really wants you onboard.

The Vice President wants to offer you the lead

in reviewing candidates for jobs beneath the cabinet.

Bill, that's the same job I had eight years ago.

I know it's not ideal,

but Al really wants you to do this.

And I don't think he's going to understand why you wouldn't.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact

that he didn't exactly back me when Coelho pushed me out of the campaign.

We all know Coelho was a big mistake. That's why he's gone and you're back.

Right, working under the people that used to work for me.

Everyone appreciates you coming back.

It's the first thing I did when I took over this campaign.

And I did it because I hate what happened to you. It was bullshit.

But this is a good opportunity for you to get back on the inside.

Tell the Vice President I have been delighted

to write press releases for the last three months and work on rapid response,

but I will not be able to accept his eight-year demotion at the current time.

Ron, would...

Would you think about it?

I'll keep you up to date on exit polls.

The Vice President and his wife voted this morning

at Forks River Elementary in Elmwood.

Chris called earlier.

He said if Gore wins, you can have the week off.

If he loses, he wants you in the office by noon tomorrow.

They don't call Warren Christopher the great negotiator for nothing.

So I take it you're not gonna be joining the Gore administration.

I understand what you're saying to me,

but I haven't heard anything about that.

The Governor promised to go to California,

and that's why the Governor went to California.

And he always keeps his promises. Absolutely.

I'm finally in the Governor's mansion, and it is pretty imposing.

Now we're all seated at dinner

and everybody bows their heads for prayer.

And I am sitting there thinking

"What's a nice jewish boy from Pennsylvania doing here

"praying with the Governor of Texas?"

And the Governor leans over and he whispers in my ear,

"It's about time we got some methodist blood in you."

And I got relaxed very very quickly.

It was a lovely lovely moment.

Are we gonna win, Mr. Ginsberg?

By tomorrow morning

the stains of Bill Clinton will be washed away

and honor and dignity will finally be restored to the White House.

Hey, Ben, did you hear about Palm Beach County?

Revote! The ballot is unfair!

It should be clearer where you're punching.

I understand. I want to talk to somebody.

Revote!

Is this what all the fuss is about?

Judge Burton, I've had three friends call me in a panic

because they think they voted for Pat Buchanan.

They're very upset.

Theresa, why did you list the candidates on both sides of the ballot?

The font that I had to use

to get all the candidates on one side was very small

and I was worried that the older voters would have trouble reading them.

We're going to need a lawyer.

The presidential race is crackling like a hickory fire here.

This promises to be one of the closest races in American presidential history.

The big prize, the brass ring for this evening... The state of Florida

A big call to make... CNN announces

that we call Florida in the Al Gore column.

Al Gore wins the state of Florida.

Florida was supposed to be George W. Bush country.

And you can bet that Governor Bush will be madder than a rained-on rooster

that his brother, the Governor, wasn't able to carry this state for him.

Stand by. Stand by.

What the networks giveth, the networks taketh away.

NBC news is now taking

Florida out of Vice President Gore's column.

Waiter, one order of crow, please.

Call the doctor, call the police, call a psychic.

In Florida, it's tightened up.

All eyes on Florida at this hour.

- This is the answer Florida. - What the heck is going on in Florida?

Whoever wins Florida won this election.

I apologize. We're going to make a projection now.

ABC news is now going to project

that Florida goes to Mr. Bush

Bush wins. Florida goes the presidency is Bush.

That's it. Sip it, savor it...

Unless there is a terrible calamity...

... cup it, photostat it, underline it in red...

... George W. Bush by our projection is going to be...

... press it in a book, put it in an album, hang it on a wall...

- The 43rd president... - The 43rd president...

The 43rd President of the United States.

At 18 minutes past 2:00 eastern time,

CNN declares that George Walker Bush

has won Florida's 25 electoral votes

and this should put him over the top.

Ladies and gentlemen, listen up!

Al Gore has just called the Governor

and conceded!

You did a great job.

All of you, great job.

Area clear.

Are you okay?

We've learned that the Vice President is on his way

to deliver his concession speech

at the War Memorial Plaza here in Nashville.

Can't say enough about the race George Bush ran...

... but let no person say

that Al Gore did not pour himself into this campaign...

- Ron Klain. - It's Fournier.

I've got no comment at this time, Ron.

Why did Gore concede?

Hang on a second.

Why did Gore concede? Because we lost the election, Ron.

Jeremy, get Nick Baldick.

Hurry up.

Ron, The Associated Press has different numbers than the networks.

What? The networks have all called it.

Gore conceded. He's on his way to the Plaza right now...

All I'm saying is the oldest news organization in the country

has not yet called this election. We still believe Florida's

too close to call. I don't understand what the hell you guys are doing

- What is it? - I'll call you back, Ron.

You have reached Bill Daley. Please leave a message.

Damn it.

- Ron Klain. - Ron, I think