Leaf Fall Brings Questions, Hope, Answers

2000 News Report
Nov. 8, 2000 [written as we all awaited a resolution to the 2000 U.S. presidential election]

As leaves fell Tuesday morning, hope rose. For weeks dozens of candidates had rested their dreams on one event, one biological occurence, one tree. And Tuesday appeared to be the day. Maybe.

In the early hours of Nov. 7, observers began to pause outside the Press Building to watch the votes come in—they were slower than usual, but they were steady as handfuls fell every minute. One observer jubilantly called the election, resting his predictions on the quick landing of leaves from the critical North Branch—a battleground area that carries a hefty portion of the biological ballots. Election judges expected a result by noon, growing in their confidence that the vote would go to candidate Norm Darais, a veteran tree watcher.

By late-morning Tuesday, the North Branch was clearly cast, and many leaves from other branches had fallen in line, giving Darais a significant lead. The Provo native was observed bearing two sample leaves and jubilantly sizing up his apparent victory in mid-afternoon. But other candidates had yet to concede, and by late-afternoon, judges were softening their earlier predictions, claiming that the race was too close to call and debating whether a recount would be necessary.

And that's how Tuesday ended—forerunner Darais solidly in the lead, but skeptics and other Oracle hopefuls waiting for more returns.

Wednesday dawned cold, and at 7:30 a.m. ballots were coming in fast. Judges quickly recanted earlier predictions and began checking the tree regularly. By 8:30 ground hits were being registered by the second, and candidate Charles Cranney was rapidly coming from behind. Cranney, an Orem native and long-time Oracle hopeful, declared victory before 9 a.m., with several other candidates conceding. Branches quickly emptied and by 10 a.m., the fall had slowed, leaving most polling places bare. It is unsure whether Darais has yet to concede, but the early leader held a private meeting with Cranney this morning, and experts suspect the Oracle-ship is soundly in Cranney's court.

"It's clear," said analyst Jeff McClellan, "that experience and native intuition carried the day in this decision. Both of the leaf leaders have been in the building and in the area for a long time—longer than some of the other candidates have been alive."

By late-morning Wednesday, exit polls solidly showed a Cranney victory, but a few ballots remained outstanding. Some wondered whether Darais supporters would demand a recount, but judges were confident in the initial count and said they weren't likely to entertain such requests. Oracle-elect Cranney will be inaugurated at the November treat day, time and date to be announced.