Still, 40 percent of Gore backers said Mr. Bush would make an effective leader.

But he worries about elderly voters, many of them Gore backers, in a state with the nation's third oldest electorate, average age 51.

Most Gore backers insist that the Elian case is just a bump in the road to the White House.

And some Gore backers outside his campaign recognize the problem.

Other Gore backers said Mr. Bush was more conservative than they had expected.

Several Gore backers said they did not think the outcome was fair - but that they still perceive Mr. Bush as their legitimate president.

Ms. Larson was not the only Gore backer trying to find a silver lining.

Gore backers made the most noise, though the Senator's speech did not much rouse the audience.

Even the staunchest Gore backers said there was a limit to how long Democrats would stand behind him.

Some Gore backers are excited about two things in "Erin Brockovich."