Reed to certify Rossi as winner (Democrats struggle to find recount $)

[Freddie Stubbs]

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA -- Republican Dino Rossi becomes Washington's governor-elect when Secretary of State Sam Reed certifies the election this morning, and the Democrats have until Friday to demand a costly hand recount -- which right now they don't have the money for.

With only 42 votes separating the candidates and claims of voting irregularities in some counties, Democrat Christine Gregoire vowed to do whatever it takes to make sure every one of the 2.8 million votes is counted a third time.

But as of yesterday, that's a promise she can't afford.

A demand for a statewide hand recount would cost at least $700,000 -- upfront.

more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/201689_governor30.html

[fraud08]

1. ask kerry...

he's got plenty 'left-over'!

[IndianaGreen]

2. Yeah, ask Kerry for he has money left

why not put some of those extra millions for a recount on an election in which there are only 42 votes separating the candidates.

[Voltaire99]

19. Or the money they wasted on keeping Nader off ballots.

Oh, John, we...knew ye. Unfortunately.

[RedCloud]

21. Kerry can help her "Catch up"

Oh, sorry about that!

[Rose Siding]

5. Or the DNC!

Don't they give a crap about this blue state at ALL?!!

42 votes and no fight left in the party. WIMPS. SHAME!

[jrthin]

6. You took the

words right out of my mouth.

[Benhurst]

11. Yes, ask Kerry. Hasn't he "reported for duty?" nt

[noclonyofthechimp]

3. This is just rediculous! With such a small amount of votes dictating the

winner, there should be an AUTOMATIC hand recount. Isn't their some kind of law regarding this when there is such a close election???

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Apperently not in Washington

There was no such law in Pennsylvania until this year. Prior to that any recount was on a precinct-by-precinct basis, and you had to put up money for it.

[noclonyofthechimp]

7. I have a friend in Seattle who is in as much despare about this

stolen election as most of us here at DU....I'll see if she has any inside scoop.

[rodeodance]

12. crappo---elections go to the rich--as does health care, etc etc

[cybildisobedience]

8. Could Dean put up the recount bat?

I'm sure small amounts of money would pour in from all over the country, and it would illustrate how much of an issue this is to us out here. It would actually give the brain-dead media a visual, which they apparently need to follow a story.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. That would certainly boost his efforts to be DNC chair

[rodeodance]

13. would love to have the recount--just to see the Repugs sweat!!!!

[KurtNYC]

15. Recount a couple dozen precincts and if the vote lead switches

stop and let the GOP demand (and pay for) the statewide count.

But I gather it doesn't work that way. It is the whole state or nothing?

[genieroze]

10. Get rid of another democrat then!

What's wrong with these people? Cough up the money!

[seriousstan]

14. On Kerry's site RIGHT NOW!!!!

Contributing to the Kerry-Edwards 2004 General Election Legal and Accounting Compliance Fund (GELAC) provides important support for our campaign. The Federal Election Commission has just granted our request to raise funds now to cover recount expenses. Your contribution to Kerry-Edwards 2004 GELAC will provide the resources to make sure we are prepared to win the post election day battles.


https://contribute.johnkerry.com/gelac.html?ref=CUVDLKFNiAwH626857.1514759&p=

[fraud08]

16. thats what they said before...

will that be added to the current surplus or is that in a 'lock-box' or somet'n?

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. I think that is only for a recount for the Presdiential vote

Not for other races.

[skippythwndrdog]

17. Wow, with a margin that thin, a recount could go either way.

It sure is amazing how tight some races are. I'm floored.

[JaneDoughnut]

20. Got this in my email

I need your immediate help. You've probably heard about the extremely close race for governor here in Washington. Only 42 votes separate my opponent and me, and thousands of ballots across the state haven't been counted.

This is by far the closest race in the history of our state, and one of the closest the nation has ever seen. That means we must make sure that every single legitimate ballot has been counted -- and that means a statewide manual recount of every vote.

Washington state law requires the party requesting the recount to pay for it, and it will cost at least $750,000. The Democratic Party is committed to this recount, but they need your immediate donation today to make it happen. Please give today.

https://www.democrats.org/support/

Let me put this race in a little more perspective. Out of nearly 3 million votes cast, only 42 votes separate my Republican opponent and me. That's a difference of 0.0014 percent. The error for voting machines is somewhere between 1 and 2 percent, or 1,000 times as great as the vote difference.

That means that this race is tied, and anything is possible with a manual recount. We must count every vote individually, and we can't do it without you.

https://www.democrats.org/support/

Do not let this election slip through our fingers. We are only 42 votes away from victory in Washington, and we are confident that once all the votes are counted, we will win this race. Please help us reach this urgent goal by making a donation today!

https://www.democrats.org/support/

Sincerely,
Chris Gregoire

-------------------------------------
I donated to Kerry several months ago and to the DNC in October. I don't understand why the funds aren't already available.