Allard says Gore should concede

Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard called on Vice President Al Gore to concede the presidential election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush and drop his court challenges.

"I hope the vice president will consider conceding. It would be for the good of the country," said Allard, a Republican, during a visit Monday to Colorado Springs.

Gore filed challenges Monday to the presidential election results in Florida. On Sunday, Florida certified Bush as the winner, giving him enough Electoral College votes to become president while Gore won the popular vote.

Allard, noting that three previous presidents have lost the popular vote but won in the Electoral College, said Gore is trying to make an end run around election laws.

"I think, at this point, for unity and for the good of the country, Gore needs to accept the results in Florida," Allard said. "They just need to follow the law. They shouldn't be trying to change it in the middle of the process."

But the nation largely is in uncharted constitutional territory, and Allard wasn't about to predict what will happen.

"There are a lot of scenarios," he said.

If Bush becomes President, Allard said Republicans will be able to control the agenda in Washington, even with a likely 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and a thin GOP majority in the House.

"There are a whole lot of things that still can be accomplished with this administration," Allard said.

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