Whatever the outcome, Dubya acts the Chief

Bush Camp

With almost regal disdain for the growing controversy over the vote in Florida, George W Bush and his advisers spoke and acted yesterday as though the White House was already theirs, telling the world in carefully crafted information leaks that they were hard at work on the transition of power and fully expected to have victory confirmed in short order.

With almost regal disdain for the growing controversy over the vote in Florida, George W Bush and his advisers spoke and acted yesterday as though the White House was already theirs, telling the world in carefully crafted information leaks that they were hard at work on the transition of power and fully expected to have victory confirmed in short order.

The candidate himself stayed well out of the limelight in the governor's mansion in Austin,where he was holed up with his extended family and his running mate, Dick Cheney.

Their aides said they were working hard on assemblinga new administration. MrCheney, who looks increasingly like a babysitter for the spottily knowledgeable man on the top of the ticket, was appointed head of the transition team. Of the first names floated for top jobs in a putative Bush presidency, most were relics of the term of George Bush Snr - emphasising the impression thata restoration of the pre-Clinton order was the kind of leadership the US could expect if the Republicans prevail.

The mess in Florida was certainly not being ignored, but it was delegated to another big name from the past, ex-President Bush's Secretary of State, James Baker, who flew to Florida and immediately sought to play down the seriousness of the impropriety allegations. "You can sue anybody for anything these days," Mr Baker said breezily, shortly after his plane touched down. The Bush camp is trying to give the impression of a smoothly running train heading inexorably towards its muchawaited final destination.

Already on Wednesday, Mr Bush spoke briefly to reporters in terms that sounded more like an acceptance speech than an acknowledgement of doubt about the election outcome.

Mr Bush was said to be going about his routine in an unruffled manner, feeding his pets and making morning coffee for his wife as he likes to do, before attending rounds of transition meetings.

Republican Party officials said they were tentatively planning a second - real - celebration party last night under the steps of the state Capitol in Austin. The police barriers that have sealed off the area since Tuesday were still in place at midday yesterday. As the day went on, however, there was no sign of a publicity blitz inviting people to gather once the Florida recount results were known.

Whatever the rhetoric, it was clear the unfinished election was uppermost in everyone's minds. Some Bush aides raised the possibility that their man might win the overall popular vote after all. Mr Gore's lead was narrowing yesterday, from a high of about 250,000 votes to less than 100,000. The Bush camp said that uncounted overseas votes - which traditionally go Republican by a margin of as much as 80-20 - could tip the balance back in his favour.