Officials within the Bush campaign said they would drop the suit if the Vice President promises to recognize whatever results are reported this Friday, Nov. 17--the deadline for receiving overseas absentee ballots postmarked by Nov. 7.

Analysts have remarked that those ballots often come from members of the military stationed overseas who traditionally vote Republican, though predominantly Democratic ballots from Americans living in Israel might reduce a Bush gain.

A series of deadlines further complicate the situation.

Bob Crawford, the head of Florida's Canvassing Commission, said this weekend that if Palm Beach county fails to certify its vote count by 5 p.m. Tuesday, its results will be thrown out.

Further question will arise if the state as a whole fails to certify its results by December 18, the day the Electoral College is schedule to meet and cast its votes.

The electors could chose a president without Florida, but if neither candidate received at least 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives would be called to choose the president.

Even there, constitutional complications could potentially prevent a clear winner.

On Jan. 20, if no president has been elected, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert would be sworn in as president.