1976 Presidential Race


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1976 Presidential Race

1976 Presidential Race

With the 2008 US Presidential race approaching its climax, the UK's Channel 4 ithis week aired Recount; a look back at the events preceding the inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States in 2000. The whole world knew of voting irregularities which suggested doubt over the result in the state of Florida and which could have tipped the balance back towards the Democrat candidate, Al Gore. This film explores those events from the perspective of both Republican and Democrat campaigns. Interestingly, any role that Bush's brother, Jeb, may have played as Governor of Florida is largely ignored. It focuses instead on the laughable character of Katherine Harris, the Secretary of State, in whose hands nominal power over the counts, recounts and State election results lay.

Strong Casting Needed For Strong Characters

The cast is wonderful with Kevin Spacey leading as Ron Klain, Gore's spurned Chief of Staff who is drawn back into the campaign in its final stages to fight against not only the electoral issues but also the apathy within the Democrats and particularly the defeatism of Gore himself. Spacey is supported by Brit John Hurt as Warren Christopher (Klain's boss at his day job as well as Clinton's former Secretary of State). Dennis Leary brings in a significant yet subtle performance as Michael Whouley, one of the Democrat Party's strongest political strategists, and a key supporter of Klain's throughout the Florida campaign.