WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Al Gore, his legal fight lost, has decided to drop out of the fiercely contested presidential race with Republican George W. Bush, The Associated Press has learned. The two-term Texas governor is set to become America's 43rd president.
Two senior advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Gore will drop out of the race in the address Wednesday night. "The race is over," said one official who had talked to Gore Wednesday morning. "We're done."
Gore made the decision 12 hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his bid to recount thousands of ballots in Florida and overturn official results of the state's presidential race. With that, America's closest presidential election in 124 years ended on its 36th tumultuous day.
"The vice president has directed the recount committee to suspend activities," campaign chairman William Daley said in a written statement issued 12 hours after the Supreme Court closed the door to further recounts in Florida's contested election.
Bush was in Texas, savoring his hard-earned triumph in private, as if to give Gore all the room he needed for a graceful exit.
Republican running mate Dick Cheney was in Washington, with meetings set with Republican GOP leaders.
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III told reporters on Tuesday night that Bush and Cheney were "very pleased and gratified" by the court's 5-4 ruling - an understatement of historic proportions given the furor since Election Day.
Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20 would give Republicans greater control over the government than at any time since Dwight Eisenhower sat in the White House. The GOP retained control of the House in the November elections. The Senate is split 50-50, but Cheney's election as vice president will give the GOP at least nominal control there, as well.
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling triggered a fast-paced series of events.
Members of Gore's own party urged him to concede the race, but the vice president went to bed Tuesday night without telling aides what he would do.
After meeting with his wife Tipper and several advisers, Daley among them, Gore authorized the statement on Wednesday saying he would not press the recount any further for Florida's pivotal 25 electoral votes.
Aides said the vice president intended to telephone Bush, probably before his address. Democratic aides were talking with the TV networks about broadcast time.
