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Saturday Morning News

Recount Under Way in Volusia County

Aired November 11, 2000 - 9:01 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, ANCHOR: Now, we're covering the Florida recount from just about every angle possible. Our Bill Hemmer is currently posted at the state capital in Tallahassee. We have CNN's John Zarrella in West Palm Beach.

Before we go to John, let's check in with Bill in Tallahassee.

Bill, what is the latest there?

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, this was supposed to be a holiday weekend, but far from the case. For many people across the state of Florida still waiting again, as you mentioned, on that recount that we begin shortly in West Palm and Palm Beach County and also in Volusia that you mentioned that started an hour ago.

The official word from the state of Florida right now, 66 of 67 counties reporting, 961 votes the margin of difference between George Bush and Al Gore, without Palm Beach County reporting there. I know you mentioned the AP number. All counties, according to the Associated Press, included. They believe George Bush with a lead of 327 votes.

More now on the hand count. That's the story of the day in Florida. Here's John Zarrella live down in West Palm with more on that. John, good morning to you.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you again. And yes, the hand count is expected to begin shortly here in a room behind me. They're going to be recounting about 4,300 votes from three selected precincts, those precincts selected by the Democratic Party.

We understand the significance of that is because there are about 10,000 votes out there, ballots out there that were not punched for any presidential candidates, the Democrats believe that the machine that did the hand counting may have glitched. There must be something wrong, there's no way there could be that many votes without some candidate punched. So in these selected precincts.

The hand count, about the same time in a room adjacent to this, they're going to begin a machine recount that was requested by the Republican Party. That's of all of the votes in Palm Beach County.

The chief communications director for Bush-Cheney is here, a good indication of the -- that's Tucker Eskew (ph) -- a good indication of the significance of what both parties are placing on what is going on here in Palm Beach County, and all of this, of course, preceding what will likely be legal action in local state courts over the days ahead.

The big story today, though, the recount here, which could, if the hand recount proves to show some significant anomalies, lead to the Democrats asking for a complete recount by hand of all of the ballots here in Palm Beach County. We expect some numbers to be released to us by late this afternoon, perhaps early this evening. It could take that long before the process is completed -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, John. John Zarrella, live in West Palm.

Three more things to emphasize right now. There's word in Duval (ph) County, northeastern Florida and Jacksonville, that more than 22,000 votes were thrown out in that come -- county, rather, because people double-punched for president there.

In addition, James Baker should speak within the next hour or two. We'll have his comments live for you here on CNN. And keep in mind that although there are discrepancies in other parts of the country, be it Oregon, Wisconsin, Iowa, or New Mexico, still the key in the race for the White House is Florida, because of its 25 electoral votes that are up for grabs still.

If either George Bush or Al Gore were to seize those 25 electoral votes, they would have enough to claim victory in the race for the White House in the year 2000.

Live in Tallahassee, we'll be here throughout the morning.

Also coming up in half an hour, Mike Boettcher is back with us, and we'll take some e-mails and try and answer some more questions from viewers. There's a lot of questions right now surrounding this current race.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

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