Florida officials certified the state’s vote tallies Sunday in favor of Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush, which elicited mixed reaction from local political leaders.

“We are happy that [this process] is moving on. We wholeheartedly agree that Bush has won Florida,” said Anne Dougherty, communications director for the Iowa Republican Party. “One thing that we did notice is that the Gore campaign is fixated that not every ballot was counted; they are complaining about the human error.”

She said that while she understands Democratic candidate Vice President Al Gore’s position, what the American people don’t know is that there is a certain margin of error in every state regardless of how it is controlled, and many people are telling her that they have had enough.

“Bush has won every single recount — you don’t continue a football game after the clock has run out,” she said. “Most people have recognized that George W. Bush has won.”

However, several Gore supporters do not want to see the Democratic candidate concede yet.

“I don’t disagree with Gore contesting the vote or for the lawsuits to continue,” said Debbie Kattenhorn, president of Cyclones for Gore and ISU Democrats. “I disagree with those who say Gore is a sore loser.”

Kattenhorn said she does disagree with the decision for the hand-counted votes in Miami-Dade County to be excluded from Sunday night’s canvassing.

Charlie Johnson, vice president for ISU College Republicans, said he is taking a “wait-and-see attitude” toward the latest development in Florida, and he cautions the Bush campaign not to ignore the continuing legal battles.

Bush’s transition team hit a road bump Monday when federal funds and offices for transitioning administrations were not released to them while they await the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

“If it is contested, then the election isn’t really over,” Johnson said. “They’re probably not completely entitled to the [transition] funds.”

Dougherty said it looks as if the Bush campaign will have to start the transition process with private funds. She said they have to go ahead because it’s almost December, and more than 600 people need to be hired in the executive office.

“I would have to admit that they are in a hard spot,” Kattenhorn said. “[The Bush campaign] has not had eight years in Washington, but it isn’t over. A lot of the information out of [the contested Florida] counties suggests that Gore wins.”

Dougherty said that while many courts have ruled in Gore’s favor, the situation is now hurting his legitimacy.

“Nothing will be resolved if nobody concedes, yet I understand that Gore truly believes he has more votes,” Johnson said. “Yet, if it goes much farther, it could cause damage to our country.”