Whatever happened to common (uncommon?) sense in this whole matter. According to the US constitution, it is up to each state to decide how its electorial votes will be decided. In Florida (and I would guess all other states) the final vote has to be certified in some way or other after all the votes have been counted. And if margin is less than a certain percentage, a recount is mandatory before final certification. So what's wrong with simply waiting until final certification (particularly in an election that is this close). Then if there are legal challenges, let them go through the courts (which in most cases are reluctant to change the final outcome). Here, one candidate wants to take the uncertified tally before all the votes have been counted, because that would give him the election. The other candidate wants to keep challenging until it turns around in his favor. As Bartholomew said, "there are no statesmen in this mess". Both candidates are so weak, that whoever wins this one is going to be a one-termer, and the other party sure to win in the next election. So let's just wait until all the votes are counted and certified and graciously accept whoever the winner (not whiner) happens to be.