Posted on 08/05/2010 4:52:28 AM PDT by randita
GOP deadlocked for Stupak seat
By: Kasie Hunt
August 4, 2010 03:55 PM EDT
One vote: That's all that separates the two Republicans vying for the right to seek retiring Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak's House seat.
The unofficial vote tally kept by the Michigan secretary of state's office showed physician Dan Benishek with 27,091 votes Wednesday, compared with 27,090 for state Sen. Jason Allen. (The Associated Press gave Benishek a slightly larger, 12-vote lead.)
It's a margin so slim that the top two primary finishers could remain in limbo through weeks or even months of ballot-counting and litigation. And Democratic state Rep. Gary McDowell, who had a clear shot at his party's nomination, could end up with a significant head start on the general election.
"Apparently we have to hire these lawyers, the recount lawyers. It's just amazing," Benishek told POLITICO in an interview Wednesday. In Michigan, candidates can request recounts in specific precincts at a cost of $10 each or have the whole district recounted.
Allen's campaign would not say definitively whether the candidate would seek a recount but spoke positively about the process as one designed to protect voters. "When there is a one-vote difference, I think we are looking at democracy in action, and absolutely we would look at further scrutiny and make a decision about a recount," said Denise DeCook, an Allen consultant.
If the results hold, the contest will end up as one of the closest House campaigns in memory — far closer, even, than the 2004 general election fight between now-Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan and banker Christine Jennings, who battled each other to a 369-vote difference in what the House historian calls the most recent disputed House election.
First, however, Michigan officials have to certify the election results, and the near-tie is expected to take at least two weeks — and probably much longer — to resolve.
That's because counties have until Aug. 17 to certify their election results, Michigan Department of State spokesman Ken Silfven told POLITICO. Then, a state board will meet Aug. 23 to certify the winner. After that, the losing candidate has two days to request a recount. The winner then has seven days to object. Only after the board considers any objections can a recount begin.
A contested recount could place significant strain on the Michigan Republican Party, and on both candidates, as the November election approaches.
Benishek, who started running against Stupak in January before the incumbent bowed out, and with just his family and friends to support his campaign, has no intention of dropping out. "As far as I'm concerned, I won the election and that's all there is to it. I'm going to stand up for my rights as anyone else would in this situation," he said.
DeCook would not address whether Allen might be willing to concede. "We'll make that decision after we've gone through all of those steps over the next several weeks," she said.
You are absolutely correct
ok, as long as Allen concedes
Not exactly, it is a GOP—it’s my turn, dammit versus a grassroots effort at actual representation of the district.
Allen is GOP
they would have to hand recount, 99000 republican votes to 28000 democrat, they have to count them all it would take at least a month to schedule and fight the democrats on this
did they? or did democrats turn out for Allen? the polls had Benishek up 16%
The glass is either half full or half empty, depends on your perspective. Or “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”.
Considering Allen’s favors to the SEIU and teacher’s unions, I’m sure they helped him out some.
what are you talking about?
Dems voting in GOP Primary. Maybe they too are fed up.
please, this is not the time to be naive.
Until we have a steely-precise system that has no margin of error (fat chance) this is statistically indistinguishable from a tie. LET the lawyers have at the recounts and disputed votes, then. I see 50/50 chance that the conservative will not only lose but be significantly the poorer for it.
I'm with you on one thing for sure, if I lived in Michigan I would be pessimistic or be working real hard to separate from Detriotistan.
No way, that's a farce. What they need to do is to agree to a very quick recount, and come to some agreement about how it should be conducted where it's clear that neither of them is trying to pull an Al Gore. Make it clear that it's just all about 1 final careful recount.
Dragging it out is a recipe for disaster. That’s when you hear “there’s no difference between the parties” and it’s impossible to make an argument against that perception.
But he'll need more money than originally planned because of the extra legal expense involved. Accordingly, redstate.com has suggested amping up contributions to the Benishek campaign - from all over the country.
Thanks justiceseeker93.
the precincts are doing a verification
yup
Any idea when we’ll get some news on this?
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