COVINGTON — Nearly every day the group of four friends would meet at Kelly's Landing restaurant to eat lunch and complain about Al Gore.

        “I listened to them, ad nauseam, say how frustrated they were with the situation in Florida and with Al Gore trying to keep the presidential race going until he wins,” said Bruce Cayes, 50, a Fort Mitchell resident who works for a management consulting firm.

        “I suggested they do something about it. So we did.”

        The group, which also includes business owner Greg Long of Edgewood, each put up $200 to buy a weeklong series of radio ads on WKRC, a Cincinnati talk radio station.

        With no assistance or provocation from any political party or organization, the group convinced a fifth friend, Sherry Decker of Independence, to record the ads that ran several times a day through Friday.

        “Basically I just said Al Gore needs to be a patriot and for the good of the country, he needs to stop what he is doing and concede the race,” said Ms. Decker, 46, who works as a clerk at the Chicago Rawhide auto parts warehouse in Hebron.

        “I could not believe the reaction. So many people said they heard it,” she said.

        The radio spot gave an e-mail address and a phone number for people who agreed with the ad to call.

        Mr. Cayes said the response was “tremendous.”

        “The first day the answering service we used called and told us they were deluged with calls,” he said. “And we got dozens of e-mails. I think we really touched a chord.”

        Ms. Decker had never recorded a radio spot, but she completed the commercial in two takes. “I actually used to really like Al Gore because of his stand on the environment. I didn't vote for him but I agreed with a lot of his views,” she said.

        “But after what is going on with the election, I just lost all respect for him,” Ms. Decker said. “That's why I did this when the guys asked. ...”

        Mr. Cayes said he didn't even vote for George W. Bush. “I voted for (Ralph) Nader,” he said. “But I do think Gore needs to concede for the good of the country. It's just gone on too long.”

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