George -

Of course he should carry on since the most persuasive analysis of the evidence we have is that most who voted in Florida favored him. If his lawyers fail in the 'contest' then he'll likely have no choice but to concede.

For symmetry's sake your readers might like to know that of the three states that sent rival slates of electors in 1876 historians are generally agreed that Tilden, the Democrat, won the majority of the popular vote in Florida but that state's four electoral votes went to Hayes, the Republican who became president after the 'corrupt bargain' was sealed. That bargain included the abandonment of the defense of the rights of the former enslaved people. Does a Yogi Berra aphorism comes to mind?

Paul Gaston (electronic mail, November 29, 2000).