Palm Beach Confidential

Smokes, doughnuts, and other war stories

IT was nearly 4 A.M. on Sunday, November 26, at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center. Rep. Chris Shays, Republican from Connecticut, needed a cup of coffee. Rep. Rob Portman, Republican from Ohio, needed a bite to eat. And Carol Roberts, the famously Democratic member of the county canvassing board, needed a pack of cigarettes. Even though the deadline for turning in results of Palm Beach’s manual recount was just twelve hours away, Roberts and her fellow board members, Judge Charles Burton and elections supervisor Theresa LePore, decided it was time for a graveyard-shift break.

About the Author

Byron York

Byron York is a former White House correspondent for National Review.

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Smokes, doughnuts, and other war stories

IT was nearly 4 A.M. on Sunday, November 26, at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center. Rep. Chris Shays, Republican from Connecticut, needed a cup of coffee. Rep. Rob Portman, Republican from Ohio, needed a bite to eat. And Carol Roberts, the famously Democratic member of the county canvassing board, needed a pack of cigarettes. Even though the deadline for turning in results of Palm Beach’s manual recount was just twelve hours away, Roberts and her fellow board members, Judge Charles Burton and elections supervisor Theresa LePore, decided it was time for a graveyard-shift break.