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If you'ld put down your Mother Jones magazine and pick up a local paper you too could see that 'real life' can be quite interesting.


Sincerely,


Rory b.
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Unexpected ballots give Gregoire slight lead; recount likely

By Ralph Thomas and Keith Ervin
Seattle Times staff reporters


With her hopes of being elected governor slipping away, Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregoire got just the break she needed yesterday when thousands of extra ballots turned up in King County.

The unexpectedly large batch of outstanding ballots — nearly double what the county projected just three days earlier — helped push Gregoire back ahead of Republican Dino Rossi.

Rossi started the day yesterday with a nearly 2,000-vote lead, but by nightfall was trailing by 158 votes after nearly 30,000 more absentee and provisional ballots were tallied statewide.

Gregoire's lead represents about one one-hundredth of 1 percent of the nearly 2.8 million votes counted in the race.

It appears increasingly likely the race will go to a recount, which is required if the final difference is less than one-half of 1 percent and less than 2,000 votes. If the margin is less than 150 votes, the recount must be done by hand unless the candidates agree to another procedure.

In what has been an emotional roller-coaster ride for both campaigns, yesterday's count marked the fourth time the lead has changed hands in the two weeks since Election Day.

There are an estimated 21,700 ballots left to tally statewide — ranging from 4,000 in King County to less than five in some counties. Election officials have until tomorrow to finish counting and certify the vote.

Since Friday, King County estimated it had about 11,000 absentee and provisional ballots left to count. But county officials stunned both campaigns when they announced they were counting nearly 17,000 ballots yesterday and still would have 4,000 more to count today.

RB,

Thank you. Mother Jones doesn't publish daily, so there was no Tuesday morning edition whereby I could update my knowledge of current events. The increased number of outstanding King Co. ballots wasn't reported out here in the hinterlands. It's helpful people like you that make the world a better place.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Missing ballots? But these are ballots they FOUND, right? Well, then they aren't "missing", are they?

at about 5PM Gregoire was ahead by 89 votes with about 15,000 to go. Looks like some shenanigans may have been pulled at the last minute. I expect we will know who is governor by Feb or so.

Hell, this is to close to call. lets revote and add Edgar to the ballot. then it will be cut and dried. I mean he doesn't have anything goin on anymore!

Guys, if you look at http://www.vote.wa.gov and look at the uncounted ballots, they very clearly say that the number of uncounted ballots are estimates. Nothing missing, nothing found.

I think I am ready to call this race - Dino Rossi will win by 683 votes. There will be a recount, possible court battles and maybe there will be a Governor declared by Inaguaration Day.

Let the blaming begin!!! Pretty incredible that we have like 2 million voters and the candidates are separated by 89 votes. Obviously the Democrats have disrnfranchised alot of the dumb Republicans in this race...I say take it to the courts...Where's Al Gore!!! Patty Murray???? Jim McDermott? Let's get the smear campaign going now...

Actually it has been pretty civilized up until the Dems looked like sure losers ...then PRESTO...a **** pot of new Democratic votes drop out of the sky...just in time too.

Man, thats sour!!!!

sarcastic is the word

WOW

As of 7:25PM Tuesday...one hour ago...Rossi was ahead by 21 votes.!!!! Out of like 2.7 mil

That's hard to believe it's that close. Somebody's gonna say ".......missed it by that much!"

Of course, GW would call it a "mandate".

Well come to think of it..if a Republican takes the governor's job in Washington state and he is not gay or an extreme liberal I would say that is not only a mandate but a small miracle.

GP: Perhaps you and W need to take a look at a dictionary to find the definition of "mandate."

The "miracle" here is that the republicans put off the RWW's that dominated their party in Washington for years. They finally nominated someone who is not sooo far out there in right field. Remember John Spellman? I voted for him.

This state will elect an R if they don't believe God is whispering in their ear on a daily basis like Ellen Crasswell did.

Good one Dave! I couldn't agree more.

The need for a recount seems to be very evident... I think the candidates are both feeling lucky that one of them won't feel obligated to spring for the cost of the recount... of course they could still make this choice, and pay this bill after the Sec. State certifies the election in a few weeks. In fact, they could do it twice.... according to State law.

Who whispers in your ear Dave?

mandate was the wrong choice of words. As of this moment there is only a 12 vote spread with the 750 Benton County ballots still to be logged in...they are late.

What I was surprised at was the ability of ANY Republican to be competitive in the state of King County. So many years of the same old thing may have played a role in this election as Rossi talked about reviewing every agency and program etc etc...Gregoire had some great things to say on the fishing issues. If they were co-governors I think we would be better served than either one solo.

What a crazy process.

OK Benton County finally logged all their 750 remaining votes...All done now with Rossi ahead by 261 votes. Grays Harbor may have some legal challenges and will King County and others. The lawyers are off and running starting tomorrow. We may have to hold our breath until mid December.

Maybe the State Supreme Court should be enlisted and appoint the next Governor. What the heck, it worked once.......

I think the result may yet be engineered by one side or the other.

GP: Given that the race is a close to a dead heat as is possible, wouldn't it be equally as accurate to say Obviously the Republicans have disenfranchised a lot of dumb Democrats? Naw, that would require you to look at things from both sides. I'm pretty sure you can only see on your right side. Are all your shirts red too?

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Democrat and master politician Lynden Johnson once said,

"When it comes to tallying the results from the ballot box, just find out what the Rebublican total is and finish your count last."