From a Washington Post - Nation in Brief note
Wednesday, December 1, 2004; Page A07
(original source: -- From News Services)
Rossi Win Is Certified in Wash. Governor's Race
OLYMPIA, Wash.--Republican state Sen. Dino Rossi was certified on Tuesday as the winner of Washington (state)'s race for governor, but the closest gubernatorial contest in the state history is far from over.
"A recount is almost a certainty," said Secretary of State Sam Reed, the state's chief election officer.
Reed declared that Rossi defeated Democratic Attorney General Christine O. Gregoire by 42 votes out of 2.8 million cast. But on Friday, the Democrats are expected to request a hand recount of some or all of the ballots.
That could extend the uncertainty until Christmas.
Yet again, if a Democrat loses, we see that they will demand recounts until they get the results they seek. The numbers above were from the most recent recount, but obviously those numbers can't be right (at least in Democrat's minds) as they didn't result in a Democratic win. As noted, they will now be seeking a hand recount so that they can demand to see each and every vote and try to devine what the voter really wanted.
On the more amazing side of this is that Democrats even let a race be that close in a state as traditionally liberal as Washington state has been. Oh, the tides they are a turnin'
