Gore drops out of race for White House

Democrat Al Gore has dropped out of the race for the White House, clearing the way for Republican George W. Bush to become the 43rd president of the United States. Vice President Gore addressed the nation Wednesday night from his office in the Old Executive Office Building at the White House. "Just moments ago, I called George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States," Gore said in his speech. In the next hour, Bush will make a nationally televised speech from the Democratic-controlled House chamber of the Texas Legislature after he is introduced by the state's highest ranking Democrat, Texas House Speaker Pete Laney.