Should Gore concede defeat?

The Democrat Al Gore is coming under pressure to admit defeat in the American presidential race after the Supreme Court ruled out further manual recounts in Florida.

Several senior Democrats have called for an end to the legal wrangling, saying it was now likely the Republican candidate, George W. Bush, would be the President.

But others criticised the court's majority decision, and urged Mr Gore to fight on. He is expected to make a statement later today.

Should Mr Gore continue his legal battle? Or should he throw in the towel and concede now?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

The votes were counted and recounted twice. What we have is failure of voters to follow basic instructions. The ballots in question do not clearly show a voter intent and were rejected by the machine, twice. Gore has lost. He needs to concede.
Jeff, USA

The USA has lost face with the world and I don't think Bush is the one to help them regain their ground, but the corruption goes too deep, strings are being pulled and Gore cannot win. The more he pushes the worse he looks, step down now and let Bush show the world how bad he really is. I just hope the USA can get through the deep division this has caused in some of its populace. The lesson to be learned for the world is if you want your guy in power, go out and vote, check and double check you're voting card and make sure it is valid.
Fiona, British in the USA

Shame on the corruption of the two-party system

Don Truitt, Panama City, Florida, USA

I consider both Gore and Bush as quite inadequate for the Presidency, and did not vote for either. Shame on the corruption of the two-party system! Now I can say shame on the US Supreme Court for having been a willing participant in running out the clock for George Bush. Time may not be sufficient to undo the damage created by the political pawns of the nation's highest judiciary. This is a sad day for the ideals of America.
Don Truitt, Panama City, Florida, USA

Although Gore, will probably concede - how can Bush govern with any form of legitimacy considering that less people voted for him? As for the Supreme Court judges - it is farcical that they rule along political lines. One big mess, with a pretty dirty outcome if you ask me.
Tjeerd Blackford, Brit in Belgium

It may seem like a sham to the rest of the world, but people in this country know our system has worked. Unlike some places, we didn't have tanks in the streets. We have allowed Al Gore to contest the election all the way to the Supreme Court and he has lost. We believe in the rule of law in this country and the Supreme Court is the highest judge of that law. Mr. Gore, you have given an honourable fight but it is now time to concede. We must unite our divided country for tomorrow.
Martin, USA

Democracy is more important than a media driven desire to "get it finished"

David Hammond, UK

Gore should continue as the court decision is manifestly politically biased. Democracy is more important than a media driven desire to "get it finished".
David Hammond, UK

It is now time for Gore to concede. To carry on any longer risks putting the world's last remaining super power into dangerous limbo. I am sure voters will have their revenge on Bush in 4 years time.
Chris, Switzerland

Al Gore does not have to concede. He has lost. Perhaps he should start behaving in a manner appropriate to the office of Vice President.
Mark Williams, UK

Gore should not concede. The US Supreme Court has dealt a blow to the voters in all the US by not allowing all votes to be counted.
Brian Bauman, Australia

They could have counted all the votes by now surely

Kenneth, England

I couldn't honestly care less now. I wish they would just get it sorted out instead of issuing lawsuits all over the place. They could have counted all the votes by now surely. Only in America could a farce like this ever happen.
Kenneth, England

Unfortunately Gore does have to concede now. America isn't bothered if they get the President most people voted for; they just want it over so they can carry on complaining about Federal government. Once again the only people who never lose out are the money grabbing lawyers.
Jez, UK

The American electoral system has been exposed to the world as a sham

Anders Dybwad, Norway

It matters little whether Al Gore concedes or not. The American electoral system has been exposed to the world as a sham: The composition of the electoral college is testimony to the fact that the nation was built on slave trading. The voting procedures are primitive and partisan, and the Supreme Court judges who are nominated by the President are far from impartial.
Anders Dybwad, Norway

From outside the US, it looks very much that the votes of the American electorate do not count. The voting system is confusing and flawed. It would be wrong for an unelected candidate to take a position of such importance. The votes should be recounted. If Bush is so sure he has won fair and square, he should welcome the recount as an affirmation of his victory. Gore should not give up, it is his constitutional right to stand for presidency and that right should not be hindered by those who stand to win in error.
Alex, NZ (ex-pat)

Al Gore should carry on if he wants to. The judges that have now determined American politics ought to have taken the presidential role themselves. They are supposed to be 'above' politics, yet squeal towards political tendencies. I am getting the impression that some of the American public have seen this for the money- wasting legal farce that it has been. Better luck next time America!
Colin, Netherlands

It amazes me that the onus seems to be placed on Al Gore to concede

James, UK

It amazes me that the onus seems to be placed on Al Gore to concede the election. After all, the undisputed facts of the matter are that he scored a majority in the national vote and is only being kept from the presidency by the results of a state vote that, everyone agrees, has been massively contentious. What especially surprises me is the issue of the 10,000 or so votes that were mistakenly cast or spoilt - the Republicans don't, from what I can tell, appear to be claiming that they weren't intended for Al Gore, only that they shouldn't be counted. Surely if Mr Bush can see that 10,000 people intended to cast their vote "for the other guy", effectively handing Al Gore the state and the presidency, then he should be the one conceding for the good of the nation?
James, UK

American democracy? Seems like a contradiction in terms. Elections should be decided by voters not machine malfunctions or judges.
Rick Goodwin, UK