Republican to ask for recount in Virginia AG race
(CNN) – The Republican in Virginia's attorney general race will request a recount after the official results released Monday showed state Sen. Mark Obenshain behind Democratic state Sen. Mark Herring by a razor-thin margin of about .007%.
Obenshain lost by 165 votes out of 2.2 million, marking the closest statewide race in Virginia's history.
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His campaign made the recount announcement Tuesday afternoon and will hold a press conference on Wednesday.
If a candidate loses by less than 1% in Virginia, he or she is allowed to petition the Board of Elections for a recount after the votes are certified. And because the margin was less than .5%, the counties involved in the recount will cover the costs.
A three-judge court, sitting in Richmond, Virginia, will supervise the recount. It will also set the dates and terms of the recount, and confirm the officers of election and coordinators for the recount, according to Obenshain's campaign.
The 2005 attorney general's race between current GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell and Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds also ended in a recount, in favor of McDonnell by about 360 votes.
The law does not allow candidates to challenge absentee and provisional ballots that were ruled invalid, or the eligibility of voters. It does, however, allow candidates to challenge whether or not standard ballots were tallied correctly.
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Of course he would want a recount, he is a republican who lost.
You can ask for a recount, it still won't change the results. Just take your L and move on.
Looks like the GOP teaparty vote rigging isn't working so well resulting in a dem sweep!!!! , just like romneys loss in Florida, wait till the 2014 midterms if you want to see a dem sweep!!!!!!!
Even If they count hundred times the same outcome yields in. Poor GOP thugs, better off if they shut up.
"The law does not allow candidates to challenge absentee and provisional ballots that were ruled invalid, or the eligibility of voters. It does, however, allow candidates to challenge whether or not standard ballots were tallied correctly."
Then I doubt the result will vary.
So if this recount proves he still lost will he reimburse the state?
"The 2005 attorney general's race between current GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell and Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds also ended in a recount, in favor of McDonnell by about 360 votes."
Ah, come on CNN. If you're going to throw this into the mix, how about letting us know who was ahead at the time of that recount.
Wonder how the VA supreme court will rule on this when they get it in a month. A vote count that close is less than the error that results from counting. These close counts have always been the weak point in our system.
0.007%? I might be tempted to ask for a recount if I were in his shoes. That is a statistical tie or all intents and purposes. Neither candidate would have much of what one might call a "mandate" with margins that tight no matter who is declared the winner.
Well within standard deviation. I'd ask for a recount, too. Especially seeing all these Democrat comments thumbing their nose. You'd do the same thing, too – don't pretend you wouldn't. You'd also claim tea-party fraud, or some such thing.
It is a shame they can't challenge voter eligibility; Obenshain would probably come out 10,000 votes ahead.
And he'll still come out the LOSER.
Wow. Is the GOP losing Virginia, the heart and soul of the Confederacy and slavery? Maybe there is hope after all.....nah, just wishful thinking.
The heckwith recounts. If it's too close to call reliably, call it a tie, and flip a damn COIN already.
To heck with recounts - if it's that close, call it a TIE and flip a COIN. Simple.
Republican are always sore losers! They will never accept defeat and will even cheat to get ahead!
Obenshaim has no shame as he will do trickery to win no matter it takes! That's the tea party mantra!!
Wasting taxpayers money is the teaklan thing. Just as long as it's not their money or their lives you are trying to control then it's okay.
So if he were to win in a recount, could not the other challenge that count? If no, why not? Are we to keep counting until the republican wins?
Well it's not as if he has to pay for it...that would fall on us, the taxpayers, so it's okay, go ahead...
He's entitled to a recount under the law. Let him have his shot, since we know we would want the same chance under similar circumstances.
Maripil
Republican are always sore losers! They will never accept defeat and will even cheat to get ahead!
Marie MD
Wasting taxpayers money is the teaklan thing. Just as long as it's not their money or their lives you are trying to control then it's okay.
-------------------------------------------------
With all due respect, and being a bit of a lefty myself 165 votes out of 2.2 million, and throwing in a margin of possible human error, I would demand a recount, this is not like florida. He has a legitmate right to ask for it, he can't chalange anything but the number of valid votes. If it was really that close then the voters deserve to know that the integrity of the election was upheld, regardless of the margin of win.
Thank you CNN. This teaklan reminded me of somebody for a long time and I finally figured it out . . . . Dracula!
Thank you CNN. This teaklan reminded me of somebody for a long time and I finally figured it out . . . . Dracula!
@okie, teaklans are never good losers. They keep coming back like a bad penny. They just can't handle the fact that, close or not, they are losers all.
Recount and watch the margin he lost by INCREASE. Republicans talk tough, but cry like babies more than they talk. Sarah Palin will be know as the line where the GOP lost its dignity, and its future. Ever since Sarah, the GOP has become more pathetic by the day.
The real unwritten story here (thanks for the shallows, CNN) is that the GOP lost big in a red state after trying to micromanage female reproduction in their state, and by trying to disenfranchise thousands of legitimate voters. The GOP should take note of their failure here, as should CNN.
Or the both can say "Benghazi" real loud for the effect!