Florida legislature set to name electors

Still the protests go on

By Malcolm Brabant in Tallahassee

The Florida legislature convened on Tuesday to name its slate of 25 Republican electors.

The resolution by the House of Representatives is expected to be ratified on Wednesday by the Florida Senate.

Tom Feeny is urging members to be non-partisan

The House Speaker Tom Feeney described the issue as a radioactive hot potato.

The five-hour debate is bound to be passionate, as the Democrats argue that in reality, Vice-President Al Gore won Florida.

But the outcome is assured.

The Republicans outnumber the Democrats by 43 to 27 in the House.

And they have been boosted by two defectors from Mr Gore's side, who said they had a duty to listen to pro-George W Bush constituents.

The vote in the House is expected to be ratified by the Senate, on Wednesday.