Texas Governor George W. Bush squeaked into the US presidency, winning the election by snagging an extremely narrow victory in key state Florida, and taking its 25 electoral votes, US networks said.
With victory in Florida, earlier projected to have gone to Vice President Al Gore, Bush was one electoral vote over the 270 needed to win the White House. Gore was mathematically eliminated from contention.
Bush, the second son of a president ever to succeed his father, will become the 43rd commander in chief of the United States when he takes office in January 20.
Several thousand supporters had been gathering outside the governor's mansion from early morning Tuesday, preparing to celebrate victory.
Bush watched election results come in along with his wife, Laura Bush, his 18-year-old twin daughters, his parents, former president George Bush and Barbara Bush, and his brother Jeb Bush, the Florida governor, said the agency – (AFP)
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