Bush and Gore jostle for position

Gore: Dramatic television address with Lieberman at his side

Republican presidential candidate George W Bush has rebuffed a Democrat offer to abandon all legal challenges in Florida if hand recounts go ahead.

His rival Al Gore emerged from several days of silence to make the suggestion, which was timed to coincide with US evening news programmes.

The offer brought a besuited Mr Bush from his Texas ranch to the state capital, Austin, to make a formal television address from the governor's mansion rejecting the idea.

I propose that Governor Bush and I meet personally, one on one... not to negotiate but to improve the tone of our dialogue in America

Al Gore

Both men must wait until Saturday for the official declaration of the Florida vote, which will include the thousands of postal ballots in the tallies for the first time. Currently, Mr Bush is 300 votes ahead out of six million cast.

But even after that formal declaration, the road to the White House is likely to be littered with legal obstacles.

The Democrats will fight for new figures from any hand recounts to be included in the final total, believing they will pick up enough votes to overturn Mr Bush's slim lead.

Florida's senior election official, Secretary of State Katherine Harris, has declared that no more altered tallies from hand recounts can be added.

Bush: Broadcast from governor's mansion

The legal battle is expected to go first to the Florida Supreme Court.

But it is expected to reach a final conclusion only in the US's highest federal court - the Supreme Court in Washington.

Mr Gore's offer to call off legal action in return for the hand recounts is being seen by correspondents as a shrewd political move.

This would be neither fair nor accurate - it would be arbitrary and chaotic

George W Bush

The BBC's Paul Reynolds in Florida's state capital, Tallahassee, says his initiative was directed at public opinion, as well as at the Bush campaign, and he knew Mr Bush would turn it down.

Mr Gore told television viewers he wanted to improve dialogue and speed up the final outcome.

"I propose that Governor Bush and I meet personally, one on one, as soon as possible, before the vote count is finished, not to negotiate but to improve the tone of our dialogue in America," he said.

He said the three contested recounts - in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties - should proceed, or even a state-wide recount of all six million votes if Mr Bush preferred.

Democrats' Supreme Court challenge

should hand counts be accepted?

when should they be finished?

what standards should apply during counting?

"I would be willing to abide by that result and agree not to take any legal action to challenge that result," said Mr Gore.

Mr Bush emerged from his four-day retreat inside his ranch to respond to the challenge.

"This would be neither fair nor accurate," he said. "It would be arbitrary and chaotic."

Mr Bush also rejected an early meeting with his rival, and said the result declared after the postal votes would be the "next and final" deadline.

Demonstrators have not been flagging

"Not for Vice-President Gore or for me, but for America, this process must have a point of conclusion a moment when America and the world know who is the next president." he said.

Mr Bush's formal attire and demeanour contrasted sharply with his last public appearance on Saturday, when he was casually clad in jeans and jacket.

The announcement that new tallies from hand recounts would not be added to the official results came late on Wednesday from Ms Harris.

Court papers have become the focus of attention

She said the reasons proffered by the three counties for the counts to be included were inadequate.

Ms Harris, who was Mr Bush's campaign co-chairman in the state, has faced angry claims from Democrats that she is using her position to boost Mr Bush's chances.

Despite a number of election controversies under way elsewhere, the Florida vote remains crucial as it provides enough electoral college votes to carry either Mr Bush or Mr Gore past the finishing post and into the White House.