"A presidential recount would require up to half a year, during which time the legitimacy of Kennedy's election would be in question," Mr. Nixon wrote in his memoirs.

Congressional campaigns in three Florida districts involve politicians who made names for themselves in the 2000 presidential recount.

"Florida has been in a situation in the past where votes have been taken away from the people," Mr. Nelson said in conference call with reporters, referring to the 2000 presidential recount.

He has covered numerous political campaigns and the 2000 presidential recount in Florida.

Florida Official Plans Race Katherine Harris, Florida's secretary of state, who supervised the presidential recount, is expected to announce that she will run for Congress next year.

In the 2000 presidential recount, Sancho (No Party Affiliation) was chosen to lead the Florida hand count of ballots in dispute in Miami-Dade County.

John G. Roberts advised Gov. Jeb Bush during Florida's presidential recount in 2000, even traveling to Tallahassee from Washington to help him navigate those frenzied 36 days.

In 2000, he played a major role on the Republican legal team during the presidential recount and he is an expert in the laws that govern Congressional redistricting.

The announcement ended days of speculation about whether Ms. Harris, who gained fame overseeing the presidential recount of 2000 as secretary of state in Florida, would withdraw.

She was the face of Florida's 2000 presidential recount, cheered on by fellow Republicans and despised by Democrats as she ultimately certified George W. Bush's razor-thin victory.