http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/loca...gregoire02.html

Gregoire says recount the whole state or don't recount at all

By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter

Democrat Christine Gregoire said this morning that if her party doesn't raise the money for a statewide recount, she will concede the governor's race rather than count only a few counties.
"From the beginning this has been about getting all the votes counted so we can know for sure who won the governor's race," Gregoire said in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

"So, my request of the state Democratic Party is simple: count the entire state, or don't count at all. Counting every vote is the only right thing to do."

Republican Dino Rossi was certified as governor-elect Tuesday after last week's machine recount gave him a 42-vote victory margin - perhaps the closest governor's race in the nation's history.

Gregoire's statement does not say specificially what she will do if there is not money for a statewide recount. But a campaign spokesman, Morton Brilliant, said she would concede.

Without the statewide count, he said, "It ends."

Either the party or the candidate can request a recount, but Gregoire's campaign has delegated the fund raising for a recount to the state Democratic Party.

State law gives the party until 5 p.m. tomorrow to request a recount and pay a deposit based on an estimate of how many votes would be recounted.

A statewide recount would require an initial payment of $750,000.

As of today, the party has $500,000 in the bank, said Democratic spokeswoman Kirstin Brost.

Democrats have talked about the possibility of only asking for a recount in counties, or even just in precincts, where Gregoire would be most likely to pick up votes.

Gregoire told state party Chairman Paul Berendt today she won't allow him to do that in her name.

"She isn't interested in gaming the system," Brilliant said.

"She honestly believes the votes haven't been counted," he said. "She recognized that the entire election is in doubt and wants an open, consistent vote count where everyone - no matter who they support - will have confidence their vote was counted."

If a partial recount put Gregoire ahead then the state would pay for a recount in all 39 counties and reimburse Democrats for the initial count.

Gov. Gary Locke, a two-term Democrat who endorsed Gregoire as his successor, said Tuesday that his preference was for a statewide count.

Republicans have been pressuring Gregoire to concede without another recount.

Rossi has declared victory and held a party Tuesday night to celebrate.

Rossi won the first count of the Nov. 2 election by 261 votes. A statewide machine recount of nearly 3 million ballots tightened the gap to 42 votes.


David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com

Here I go, bottom fishing again.

Was this posted before another story I read saying that Kerry would fund a state-wide Washington recount?

news is reporting that he wired a quarter of a million add that to what they have raised so far and they are still about 1/2 short of what they need to ask for the recount......geez-fraud costs a lot of moolah!!

I hope somebody contacts some Big Shot Dems with Very Big Bucks. Or maybe some of us should go phonebanking again. Hmmmm. Now, where did I put my local
database ....

How do you equate fraud to a super-close election? Christ!...You people are unbelievable.

Thanks for the update, this was also posted over at DU, and folks there are contributing, with a certain amount of understandable grumbling. My understanding is the Kerry gave $250,000 which is probably the bulk of what Gregoire has raised up to this hour.

It appears she is asking the DNC to kick loose with some money and I agree the DNC should do so, in good faith effort. They certainly didn't do so hot with Kerry campaign. And it's unimaginable to me that they wouldn't support the democratic governor candidate for blue WA state. Quite frankly, if WA has a republican governor who is clearly in the Bush camp and mind think (read lockstep), then our beautiful state will suffer immensely. Say goodbye to our forests, our abundant blue waters, the end of salmon as a species, not to mention what would become of our generous social programs which are more progressive than in many states.

We are a blue state, and while I know there are some counties voting republican, I seriously doubt it is enough votes to outrun the democratic vote here in WA where I live and know my state.

We are the epitome of "tree huggers", latte-drinking, green staters and not inclined to kick up a big fuss. So if Gregoire is saying she thinks something smells, then something smells. If she believes an entire state recount is warranted, then likely it is. It's not as much that I support Gregoire (and yes, of course I voted for her), as much as it is that I know my state, as does she, so if she is calling for action, then it has merit.

my 2 cents.