Republicans Choose Not to Pursue Recount in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. — Republicans decided Friday against seeking a recount in New Mexico, where Democrat Al Gore was declared the winner in the presidential race by a 366-vote margin.
State GOP Chairman John Dendahl said a recount would be “divisive and time consuming.”
Democrats in the state had been prepared to file for recounts of their own--but only if Republicans asked for them first. Recounts can be requested for specific precincts, rather than a statewide recount.
Gore was certified as the winner of New Mexico’s five electoral votes last week.
Since then, Republicans in 17 counties have hand-inspected absentee and early ballots, searching for irregularities. The state GOP was successful in getting those ballots impounded days after the election.
Dendahl said the review turned up possible problems but that he believed Republican George W. Bush would not have picked up enough votes to overcome his opponent’s lead.
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