1.   Boies repeatedly told the justices that it was unfair for Sauls to reject the recount request without making any examination of the ballots.

2.   Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also zeroed in on apparently ambiguous language in Florida law governing whether the secretary of state could grant recount requests.

3.   The clock for a recount request probably will start ticking early this week.

4.   The Democrats, by confining their hand recount requests to four counties where Gore did well, are not advocating for the best possible outcome.

5.   Harris declared it was her duty under Florida law to reject recount requests that four counties submitted earlier in the day.

6.   No recount request is pending.

7.   Staff members at state GOP headquarters pored over county vote tallies during the weekend in preparation for a possible recount request, said Ann Dougherty, a GOP spokeswoman.

8.   With a Friday deadline looming for recount requests, Republicans began inspecting impounded ballots in some counties to see whether there may be any uncounted votes.