CTV News chief anchor Lloyd Robertson spoke with former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart on Wednesday about the United States vote cliffhanger.

Robertson: These two camps seem to be going down very different roads in terms of strategy. Bush is saying all right let's get this over with. Gore is saying hey now let's go slowly, what's going on here?

Lockhart: Well Bush very much wants tomorrow afternoon's recount announcement to be the end of this ... and say it's over. Gore on the other hand, wants to keep this slowed down, wants some events to happen, wants a little air let out of this to get people comfortable with the idea that this maybe overturned.

Robertson: Could in fact Gore be heading for a legal challenge?

Lockhart: I think he could be, I think he's not vindictive by nature but I think he won the popular vote (and) he wants to make sure this is a fair election.

Robertson: And could that challenge also come from a third party?

Lockhart: Sure I think there's already a challenge being mounted now in court on the confusion over ballots in West Palm Beach so it doesn't necessarily have to come from the vice-president.

Robertson: How long could this go on Joe, because they're suppose to inaugurate a president in the United States in January?

Lockhart: Well I think the real deadlines are here, the secretary of state in Florida has said she wants to certify this election within 10 days with all the absentee ballots in. I think the second deadline is the electors of the Electoral College actually meet Dec. 18 so I think both candidates would have had to have played all their cards by then.

Robertson: And through it all Al Gore has to be sure he's not looking like a sore looser.

Lockhart: Absolutely, but I think the one thing he knows he has going for him is he got more votes then George Bush and that's going to mean a lot.

Robertson: Thanks very much Joe.

Lockhart: Thanks.