Breaking News: Kerry wins 2004 presidential election

With lawyers peppered strategically throughout the battleground states, Lurch promises to declare victory on November 2, whether the counting is done or not.

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), bracing for a potential fight over election results, will not hesitate to declare victory Nov. 2 and defend it, advisers say. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.

In short, the Democratic presidential candidate has a simple strategy for Nov. 3 and beyond: Do not repeat Al Gore's mistakes.

The Democratic vice president prematurely conceded the 2000 race to George W. Bush in a telephone call, then had to retract his concession after aides said Florida wasn't lost. He never declared victory, an omission Kerry's advisers — many of whom worked for Gore — now believe created a sense of inevitability in voters' minds about Bush's presidency.

Gore didn't plan for the legal showdown, though few could have predicted it before Election Day. And he watched as Bush seized political advantage during the 36-day recount by publicly discussing a transition to the White House.

Not this time, promise Kerry's advisers. If there is doubt about the results, they will fight without delay.

What's the hold-up Lurch? I mean, why doesn't the bastard go ahead and declare victory now? For the love of Pete, they've already started spouting off their false charges of intimidation and "disenfranchisement". Let's just get the recount started now - plenty of early voting has taken place. What a jackass.