Supreme Court overturns recount, clearing way for Bush presidency

In an "extraordinary late night ruling on Tuesday," the Supreme Court "agreed 7-2 to reverse the Florida Supreme Court's weekend decision that ordered a statewide recount of thousands of questionable ballots. A narrower 5-4 majority found there was no constitutionally acceptable procedure by which a new recount could take place before the midnight deadline for selection of presidential electors," the Associated Press reported.

Officials in both the Bush and Gore camps agreed that it is "now virtually impossible for" Vice President Al Gore "to reach the White House," the New York Times reported.

"An intense discussion was underway within" Gore's "campaign last night about whether he should formally call an end to the effort today," according to the Washington Post. He is expected to make an announcement Wednesday.

But "Gore aides suggested the Vice President may try to return to the Florida Supreme Court and take another crack at getting a hand recount resumed of disputed ballots in the state," Reuters news service reported.

The Washington Times lists some prominent Democrats who "signaled that the election was over," including: Gore attorney Laurence Tribe, Democratic National Committee Chairman Ed Rendell, New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli and Virginia Rep. James Moran. Rendell "was noticeably trying to back-pedal from his earlier remarks, by emphasizing he was speaking for himself--not the party," the Philadelphia Daily News reported.

"Cheers erupted in" Texas Gov. George W. Bush's "campaign headquarters Tuesday night after the U.S. Supreme Court handed the Texas governor a crucial win in his bid for the presidency," the Associated Press reported.

Aides to Bush, however, "did not want to appear to declare victory before seeing whether the Vice President might pursue other legal avenues or make a concession," the Chicago Tribune reported.