Parties Anticipate Chaotic Election
Monday, September 20, 2004 at 08:18AM Observers Mobilize for Big Day, Lawyers Prepare for Fallout
The bitterness and bad feelings left from 2000's
nasty, monthlong dispute over Florida's presidential vote could explode
into election day chaos this November as both major parties get ready
to fight that battle again, anywhere in the country. Democrats boast of
having 10,000 attorneys ready to deal with any election law violations
on Nov. 2, while Republicans want to have bipartisan teams of observers
in every precinct where problems could occur. Various other groups,
some linked to the parties and some not, also vow to do whatever it
takes to keep the election clean. Democrats and Republicans know that
George W. Bush's 537-vote victory in the state made him president,
which is a constant reminder of just how important each vote can be.
"We are very prepared, very aggressive,'' Terry McAuliffe, head of the
Democratic National Committee, said after the party convention in
Boston. "There are people who felt that the Democrats didn't fight hard
enough (in 2000). ... That's not going to happen.'' There's a growing
concern that the 2004 election will be close enough to be stolen, and
neither side has been shy about pointing fingers. [more 
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