Day 28: A Summary

Developments Tuesday in the contested presidential election recount:

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COURTS

* In Tallahassee, Fla., the state Supreme Court scheduled a Thursday hearing of Gore’s appeal, which seeks to count 14,000 disputed ballots by hand.

* In Atlanta, the U.S. Appeals Court heard arguments in two separate but related appeals from Bush supporters fighting manual recounts. Democrats argued a ruling is unnecessary because recounts are finished and Bush has been certified the winner in Florida.

* Lawyers prepared for two trials today in Tallahassee, in which Democrats charge that Republicans in Seminole and Martin counties were illegally allowed to correct applications for absentee ballots.

* African American leaders in Jacksonville, Fla., filed a lawsuit contesting Bush’s victory because, they charge, minorities were systematically denied the right to vote.

* In Pensacola, Fla., Republicans urged a federal judge to rule that rejected overseas ballots, mostly from military personnel, should be counted in the state’s vote totals.

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LEGISLATURE

* As Florida’s Republican-led Legislature continued to weigh a special session to name the state’s 25 electoral college representatives for Bush, an angry crowd of Democrats confronted lawmakers at the Capitol in Tallahassee.

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THE CANDIDATES

* In Austin, Texas, Bush confidently declared himself ready to “seize the moment” as the nation’s 43rd president. His running mate, Dick Cheney, discussed the transition in Washington with congressional leaders.

* Gore, speaking outside the White House, said he is “optimistic” but Democrats increasingly suggest he should concede if the Florida Supreme Court rules against him. Gore’s running mate, Joseph I. Lieberman, visited Capitol Hill.

* Bush has raised $7.4 million to Gore’s $3.5 million to pay for Florida recount expenses.

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Sources: Associated Press, Times staff