Gore supporters breathless for Florida results

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vice President Al Gore's supporters in Nashville are stunned and hopeful. \nAfter waiting in the rain for more than an hour in the War Memorial Plaza in downtown Nashville, thousands of supporters were shocked to hear what seemed to be Gore's defeat. \nSupporters waiting for Gore's concession speech instead received news that Florida's votes will be recounted. Gore-Lieberman campaign chairman Bill Daley gave a brief statement to the crowd. \n"Without being certain of the results in Florida, we simply cannot be certain of the results of this national election," Daley said. "This race is too close to call, and until the results of the recount are recorded and become official, our campaign continues."\nFlorida Attorney General Bob Butterworth told CNN he does not know the time frame for the recount but expects it to be soon, perhaps within the next day.\nAround 3 a.m. Wednesday, a rumor began circulating that the Florida vote was much closer than expected and might warrant a recount. Later, it was confirmed that the margin between the two candidates was 1,210 votes. Under Florida state law, a margin of victory of 1/2 percent or less constitutes an automatic recount.\nGore called Bush at about 1:30 a.m. to concede the election. Then, it was reported on television that Bush had a lead of 50,000 popular votes in Florida. On Gore's way to the Plaza, the staff learned the margin was, in fact, only 6,000 and had dwindled to 1,000 by the time Gore arrived. \nGore called Bush again at about 2:30 a.m. to retract his concession.\n"They had a brief conversation, which shall remain private," said Gore-Lieberman spokesman Doug Hattaway.\nWith 100 percent of Florida precincts reporting, Bush and Gore had 49 percent of the popular vote, with a margin of 224 votes in Bush's favor at press time. Overseas ballots and absentee ballots in Citrus, Henry and Hillsboro counties had not been counted.\nCNN reported poll workers in Dade County, which includes Miami and its surrounding communities, had been called back to the polling places to help with the recount. In Nashville, Gore supporter Laurie Archibald and her friend Aaron Pannone left War Memorial Plaza tired and rain-soaked, but smiling. Archibald said she'd decided to attend the evening's activities because she supports Gore's ideals of justice and education reform. The reason she stayed was because of the night's historic significance, she said.\n"It's a historic event," Archibald said. "You have to be there to see it."\nArchibald, a long-time Gore supporter, and Pannone, who voted for Natural Law Party Presidential candidate John Hagelin, said they'll be back whenever the presidency is truly decided. With the results of the election hanging on a few hundred votes in one state, supporters at the rally said they still believed every vote counts equally.\n"I think it shows us that people really do matter," said Kimberly Alban, Vanderbilt University sophomore. "I never thought my vote mattered, and in some circumstances it doesn't, but in Florida for people, it really does"