Senate leader urges Gore to concede U.S. election
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott on Sunday called on Democrat Al Gore to concede defeat after the state of Florida certified Republican George W. Bush the winner of its disputed presidential election.
"While Vice President Al Gore may have other legal options to pursue, for the good of the country, I call upon the Vice President to end his campaign and concede this election with the honor and dignity the American people expect," Lott said in a statement read by his communications director Susan Irby.
Lott said by conceding the election, Gore would be "following the selflessness" of other American politicians who admitted defeat despite very close election results, including former presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and former vice president Hubert Humphrey.
"It is time to end this campaign and move on to unite this country," Lott said, pledging to work with "president-elect Bush to bring the American people together in a sense of mission and commitment to achievement."
Official Florida results showed Bush won the state's disputed presidential ballot by a margin of 537 votes, but Gore moved swiftly to contest the results and prevent Bush from becoming the 43rd president of the United States.
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