Black leaders emphasized economic self-help and individual advancement into the middle class, as a more fruitful strategy than political agitation.

"It is not yet certain that this is going to be a fruitful strategy," Dr. Kuritzkes said.

Some say that hunting in old burned-over sites when the oak leaves first appear is a good and fruitful strategy, but others insist that morels are best collected in old apple orchards at the time when the lilacs bloom.

Aides to Mr. Gore also said they were outmaneuvered on the overseas ballots because they were putting most of their efforts in what many believed would be a more fruitful strategy: contesting the punch-card ballots in three large South Florida counties.