WASHINGTON. Nov 10: The US election Is over but the campaign continues in the improbable 2000 presidential race, with Al Gore and George W Bush raising funds for legal battles, waging a public relations struggle and deploying waves of lawyers and political aides to Florida, site of an Intensely watched recount, reports AP.

"The vote count on Tuesday night showed Governor Bush won Florida's election, and a recount has now confirmed his victory," Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes said in a statement released today.

In a statement. Gore countered. "Contrary to claims being made this morning by the Bush campaign, this election Is not over." Gore said in a statement released early Friday. "Again, we want the true and accurate will of the people to prevail, and that means letting the legal system run Its course." .

Republicans continued to urge Gore to drop his challenge of the results.

Former Sen. Robert Dole said, "I think If I were Al Gore, and 1 know him fairly well we've had a count, we've had a recount it's time for him to say the election Is over, let's go on with the business of America. The recount was held. Bush Is still the winner."

With the tissue thin margin, several thousands ballots tn the mall from overseas could elect America's 43rd president. They would not all be counted before November 17 10 days after the election.

Unless the election Is challenged in other states. Florida's disputed vote will decide the presidency under the constitutional system that allots electoral votes to each state to equal its number of congress members.

Instead of focusing on a future in or out of the White House. Bush and Gore arc raising funds for legal battles, waging a public relations struggle and deploying waves of lawyers and political aides to Florida.

The presidential election, of course. Ison hold," former Secretary of State James A Baker III said Thursday in Florida, where he laboured on Iwhalf of Bush's campaign. Another former secretary of state, Warren Christopher, represented Gore's interests.

Not counting Florida, where Bush brother Jeb Is governor, Bush had won 29 states for 246 electoral voles. Gore had won 18 states plus the District of Columbia for 255, with 270 needed for victory.

Political charges aside, the uncertainty overshadowed any talk of the transition to a new administration.

The Incomplete popular vote totals showed Gore ahead, with 49.145.883 votes, or 48 per cent. Bush had 48,940,963, also 48 per cent. But Gore was not assured of even the uncritical popular vote lead because hundreds of thousands of overseas ballots remained to lx counted nationwide.

This is serious Stuff. U s time to cool partisan passions or nsk being damaged goods, even if you win the presidency." said Democratic consultant Jim Duffy.

fissions seemed to escalate Thursday as the two sides swapped charges and several lawsuits were filed in Honda.

The two sides clashed over the design of a ballot in Palm Beach County that left some Gore voters expressing concern the}' had inadvertently cast votes for Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan.

In addition, the Gore campaign cited more than 19.000 Palm Beach County ballots that had been thrown out because they were marked for more than one presidential candidate.