We all owe Elian a debt of gratitude. I am confident that the JBT siezure of Elian was worth far more than 278 votes in Florida 2000.
Estimates are that it cost Gore 20 - 25,000 votes. Gore knew it would too, which is why he opposed Clinton repatriating Elian. It made no difference. Clinton and Gore were joined at the hip politically. Without Elian, there would have been no Bush presidency.