Press fed up with election saga

Bush still has appeals to make in US Supreme Court

As both Al Gore and George W Bush go to court to press their claim to the US presidency, many US newspapers have been expressing unease at the continuing battle between the rival campaigns.

Under the headline "Onto the next deadline" - and seemingly resigned to a protracted fight - the Washington Post says there is little point in demanding a final outcome until the US Supreme Court holds its hearing on Friday on a Republican challenge to the manual recounting of votes in Florida.

The Post acknowledges that Mr Gore is facing an uphill struggle following the certification of Mr Bush's win in Florida, but argues: "For the sake of the legitimacy and effectiveness of whoever moves into the White House, both candidates ought to be telling their supporters that, almost three weeks after the election, the outcome is not sealed."

Democrats should call it a day, says USA Today

The New York Times believes the Supreme Court is best placed to rule on the conflicting claims.

Rulings by the Florida courts and the federal high court "can give Americans of both parties a higher level of confidence in the ballot count. That in turn, would allow either Mr Bush or Mr Gore to take office on a sounder basis".

The Times argues that both men should be looking to the wider issue of legitimacy "instead of grasping for short-term advantage".

The paper also calls on the federal Supreme Court justices to open their doors to the television cameras on Friday, so that the arguments can be carried nationwide, and so that the court "can do its part to conclude this national drama on an authoritative note".

'Tainted victory'

The Chicago Tribune, conversely, appears to have run out of patience, and issues a simple plea to Mr Gore: "End it now".

It warns the Democratic presidential candidate that he is about to cross the fine line between perseverance and stubbornness.

It's time for [Al Gore] to thank those who worked so hard for his candidacy, then declare this election over

Chicago Tribune

Mr Gore's determination to keep on fighting even after Mr Bush was declared the winner in Florida "presents the increasingly unappealing portrait of a man who wants to be a winner at any cost," the newspaper says.

It argues that his insistence on contesting the result "guarantees the country more uncertainty - and more gamesmanship".

The Tribune says Mr Gore is "grasping for a victory that would be tainted and deeply divisive".

It advises: "It's time for him to thank those who worked so hard for his candidacy, then declare this election over."

USA Today also predicts that it is time for the Democrat to abandon his presidential ambitions. Even if he does succeed in his various legal challenges, it says, there is no guarantee that he will be able to win the White House.

The American people, by and large, still seem to be saying just let us know when it's over

Detroit Free Press

For the sake of the nation's next four years, the paper cautions, "knowing when to quit may be even more important than who won".

The Detroit Free Press just seems to wish for the episode to be over. It expresses doubt that even the US Supreme Court can put an end to the debate.

While the numbers maintain that it is George W Bush who won the election, most Democrats remain convinced that Mr Gore won the most ballots, the Free Press says.

Whatever the outcome, the paper concludes, "the American people, by and large, still seem to be saying just let us know when it's over."