Republican candidate George W. Bush increased his lead Friday over Democrat Al Gore to 760 votes in Florida as overseas ballots were tallied late Friday, US television reported.
US news networks were citing figures released shortly before midnight (0500 GMT Saturday) by the Associated Press, which compiled results from 65 of the state's 67 counties. Those tallies showed Bush with 1057 absentee votes against 597 for Gore.
Incomplete official results had placed Bush ahead by 300 votes over Gore -- a tally that did not include more than 2,500 absentee ballots from Florida residents living outside the United States.
The latest figures were announced shortly before a midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday) deadline for receiving and counting all absentee ballots.
A win in Florida would give either candidate the 270 Electoral College votes needed to become president -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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