FEC: Bush, Kerry Can Use Recount Funds

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- Federal election regulators have given President Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry another fund-raising option should either of them pursue a recount like Florida's expensive 2000 ballot dispute.

The Federal Election Commission said Thursday the two can use their legal compliance funds to cover any recount costs. Both candidates are raising money for such funds.

The Kerry campaign had asked the FEC whether it could use its legal compliance fund to tide itself over in the early days of any recount.

The campaign stopped short of asking whether it could establish a separate recount fund financed with unlimited individual contributions, as Bush and Democrat Al Gore did in 2000. The Kerry campaign's Marc Elias said it would not explore that question until after the election.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-fec-recount,0,4454535.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines