Bush not worried over Clinton's remarks
2001-01-12 11:04
Washington - President-elect George W. Bush responded on Thursday to barbed remarks by outgoing President Bill Clinton concerning the Republican's victory in contested US elections, saying: "He can say what he wants."
"When they counted the ballots, I won," Bush told reporters when asked about Clinton's remarks from Tuesday.
"He can say what he wants to say, but on 20 January I'll be honoured to be sworn in as president," Bush added.
In a speech Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois, Clinton noted that his chosen successor, Vice President Al Gore, won the popular vote and said the only way Bush could win the presidency "was to stop the vote counting in Florida."
On Wednesday, Bush spokesperson Ari Fleischer called on Clinton to "respect" his successor.
"There is another tradition in this country of presidents leaving office with respect for their successors, and I'm certain that President Clinton will want to follow that," Fleischer said.
Gore carried the popular vote by about 500 000 ballots on 7 November but failed to win the White House because he did not garner the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency.
The key to the election finally hung on the contested result in Florida and the state's 25 electoral votes. Gore was forced to concede defeat when the US Supreme Court on 12 December barred recounting of disputed Florida ballots. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA