George W. Bush reasserted his claim to the White House last night as Florida's vote recount appeared to confirm the narrowest of victories - a result his Democrat rival Al Gore vowed to fight in an historic court battle.
The Bush camp warned Mr Gore against mounting 'endless challenges' to the disputed vote count in the southern state. Mr Gore's top campaign aide said: 'This election is not over.'
The statements came soon after reports that Mr Bush's lead had been whittled down to just 327 votes across Florida's 67 counties, according to final unofficial tallies following a recount of six million votes.
The official results will be released next week at the earliest. Absentee ballots from overseas must be in by Friday. With possible legal challenges ahead, it could take even longer before the ultimate White House victor is certain.
Mr Bush's stance looked likely to stoke tensions amid the political deadlock produced by the closest presidential vote in 40 years. Nationwide, Mr Gore leads in the popular vote by just over 200,000. Some 101 million ballots were cast.
'The vote count on Tuesday night showed Governor Bush won Florida's election and a recount has now confirmed his victory,' the Bush campaign's communications director, Karen Hughes, said. 'We hope Vice-President Gore and his campaign will reconsider their threats of lawsuits or still more recounts, which could undermine the constitutional process of selecting a president and has no foreseeable end.'
'For the good of the country and for the sake of our standing in the world, the campaigning should end, and the business of an orderly transition should begin,' said former secretary of state James Baker, who represents the Bush campaign in the Florida showdown. Mr Baker said Republicans might be forced to challenge close Gore victories in other states if Democrats tie up the Florida results.
