ASHINGTON - Al Gore joked via satellite in his usual dry fashion about yesterday's installment of the legal drama in Florida: ''I appreciate this chance to speak to the Florida Supreme Court, and I ...,'' he said to laughter from the activists and academics assembled for a policy conference at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. But organizer Martha Farrell Erickson alluded to the gravity of the court battle to which the conference was merely a sidelight.
''You're in our prayers. You're in our hearts,'' Erickson said to Gore's image on an oversized screen.
He gave a brief policy speech just hours before the Florida Supreme Court met to hear arguments from Gore's team and lawyers representing Republican George W. Bush over the Florida vote count.
As many who watched the wrangling looked for clues to how long it could go on, top Gore aides, including communications director Mark Fabiani and press secretary Chris Lehane, made holiday escape plans with their families.
The recounting was expected to take just a one-day break for the holiday on Thursday.
In Austin, Governor George W. Bush focused on Texas business yesterday, including the budget, appointments and his mail, but also took time to watch the Florida Supreme Court hearing on television.
Flanked by security agents, a smiling Bush acknowledged the media as he entered the Texas Capitol building.
. ''Doing great, thank you,'' Bush said.
