The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.
The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.
An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.
The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.
APOn the news this evening they said there were still votes out, and if Allen was within 1/2 percent there would automatically be a recount. Allen is in 1/6 per cent, so I would think that would be an automatic recount.
Chuck Schumer was making some inane comments and ended up saying that they (Conrad Burns and Allen) should be gentlemen and concede! Can you believe that bunch of hypocrites? Look how Al Gore conceded, then withdraw it, and challenged the election, and the Demonrats thought we should give the election to them because of who they were!