WA gov race: DNC won't pay for full recount

[Newsjock]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/201689_governor30.html

Reed to certify Rossi as winner
Democrats struggle to find money for a costly hand recount

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA -- Republican Dino Rossi becomes Washington's governor-elect when Secretary of State Sam Reed certifies the election this morning, and the Democrats have until Friday to demand a costly hand recount -- which right now they don't have the money for.

With only 42 votes separating the candidates and claims of voting irregularities in some counties, Democrat Christine Gregoire vowed to do whatever it takes to make sure every one of the 2.8 million votes is counted a third time.

But as of yesterday, that's a promise she can't afford.

A demand for a statewide hand recount would cost at least $700,000 -- upfront.

... Brost said the Democratic National Committee has agreed to pitch in to pay for a second recount but will not pay for one that is statewide.

more

[cornermouse]

1. 42 votes difference between the candidates...

Sort of makes you wonder which side the DNC is on.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. With a DNC like this

who needs Repugs?

[truehawk]

38. Right, With this DNC we all have WELCOME Stamped on our Backs

[juajen]

3. Damn

You know they have the money. This needs to be done.

:kick:

[Lil]

4. WTF?". . . (won't)pitch in to pay for a second recount but will not pay .

. . .for one that is statewide."

700K is a drop in the bucket for them. Email blitz time- Sinclair style?

[bobbieinok]

5. part of DNC secret plan to take over the US

[markus]

10. for the GOP and Xian coalition

eom

[bobbieinok]

6. don't some states have a law if vote is close, there MUST be a

recount??? like within some percent???

[bemis12]

17. Yes, but that's been done

This would be a second recount. Rossi has won the first two counts. Another one would have to be funded by the challenger.

[Ruffhowse]

7. If the DNC can't come up with this money, that's it, I'm no longer a

Democrat, I will put my efforts towards the Green Party. I worked my butt off this Fall for Democrats and for Gregoire and if the national committee won't even support their own candidates, to hell with them all. This REALLY pisses me off. Fucking loser Democrats, they deserve to be the minor party forever.

[dewaldd]

15. I agree--the democratic party has betrayed us and sold us out

[Live Free Or Diebold]

8. Wow; this is pretty sad.

Now, Gregoire could very well pull this one out of the fire with a hand recount - only a 42 vote margin!

But, it really should be a statewide recount. The party should help put up the money; it's in their best interests and Lord knows they can afford it.

Can you imagine the PR nightmare if Gregoire recounted only Democratic strongholds and pulled ahead that way? Sure, the state would force a recount in the other counties in that contingency, but the cries of "bad sportsmanship" from the Repugs could be damaging to the public opinion. Not too good when you'd be barely ekeing out a majority.

And let's not forget the example of Gore in 2000: had he gotten a full statewide recount in Florida he'd have been shown the true winner, but the handful of blue counties he was asking for wouldn't have been enough.

[Carolab]

9. PUNISH THESE LOSERS!!!

I am so SICK of the "Party" not bellying up! WHY IS THIS ALL UP TO US AND THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES???

LET'S STORM THE DAMN DNC Headquarters--fax and phone and e-mail the CRAP out of them! Kerry gave them some of OUR money that was left over! That's what the GELAC money was THERE for!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!

REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T DO THIS SHIT!!!

[The Flaming Red Head]

20. I agree. They're sneering and gloating,didn't you notice. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. What about the money Kerry gave back?

Can they use that money?

[Carolab]

12. I don't know why not!

MAKE THEM ANSWER FOR THIS! We need this Governor!

[usrbs]

13. We have to contact Pelosi, Reid, and the rest

This is unacceptable. We have to bombard their offices right now. Plus, of course, the state leaders.

[Eric J in MN]

14. Call the DNC. Tell them you gave them money, and

you want them to put out the $700,000 for a recount:

202-863-8000.

[Straight Shooter]

36. I just called and told them the RNC would have no problem paying for it

if it were their candidate who was that close. I told them to put their money where their mouth is.

I also said this very politely, as I was speaking to a machine. And I included that Rossi is a real "piece of work" and is definitely somebody we don't want as governor of Washington if there is any way to avoid it.

And I said $700,000 is nothing compared to what the DNC has in its coffers.

I guess that about covers it. It's so hard not to cuss at them.

[geo]

16. waahaauutt? Sen. Kerry. Kindly cough up some dough!

wow. Can't they see how important this race is??? -G

[kitp]

18. need to recount - again

I will contact the DNC and argue that they should fund a recount.

The original difference was 261, after the first recount the difference is 42 - AND the repubs fought hard against the first recount.

We need to recount WA again.

[MrUnderhill]

19. They don't NEED to pay for a full recount. This ISN'T FLORIDA.

The state law allows cherry-picking which counties you want to pay for and JUST counting THEM. If you take the lead... you don't actually win, but it forces the state to recount all of the OTHER counties to verify that there actually is a new winner.

So you just pay for the counties that have the best chance of topping the current lead with previously uncounted ballots (King, etc) and let the state pay for the rest.

In Florida, it was a mistake (perhaps even "wrong") for Gore to pick only the counties that went most heavily for him (might have cost him the election), but it is the way the law works in WA.

[Eric J in MN]

21. The problem is that she may lose votes in those counties (NT)

NT

[MrUnderhill]

23. Sure... and that's supposedly what happened to Gore...but

You've got to think that her est statistical shot is to figure out where the votes are to be found (and King county is the likely spot) and just count THERE. THEN, when that turns things around, we've got at least SOME presumption of victory. Right now, the report is that the republican won - that momentum can carry you a long way. Gore's late efforts were all about finding SOME count showing him ahead before the counting got shut down so that the presumption of Bush's victory would be called in to question.

Alternatively, if we believe there is some fraud to be found, we can concentrate on those counties as well.

[Eric J in MN]

33. But as you said, Gore lost votes in what seemd like the best places (NT)

NT

[BringEmOn]

22. If Gregroire wins, the money is refunded.

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/office/osos_news.aspx?i=SPlmpeBt1xLxpksVqw%2ft9w%3d%3d

Q: What is a requested recount and how does it work?

Any candidate or political party officer can request a recount in any race.

The request may only be made after the Secretary of State certifies the final returns on December 2, 2004 .

To finance the recount, the requesting party must make a deposit with the state in the amount of 15 cents per vote for a machine recount and 25 cents per vote for a manual recount.

If 2.8 million people vote in the general election, the cost of the deposit with the state would be $700,000 for a manual recount. The cost of the deposit for a machine recount would be $420,000.

If the costs of the recount exceed the amount on deposit, the requesting party is responsible for those costs. By the same token, if the cost is less than the deposit, a refund is made of the difference.

If the recount, however, changes the result of the election, the requesting party is entitled to a refund of the deposit and is not responsible for any recount costs.

[mcg]

24. I emailed the DNC and Pelosi.

[momzno1]

25. I called the DNC

And was directed to an answering machine for a woman named Amanda, there I left a detailed message of my concerns and how I wasn't sure that I could donate again to the DNC when I wasn't sure my vote mattered.

[Rose Siding]

27. I asked for a call back when mine was sent to Jennifer Wald's (?) machine

We'll see or I'll be on the horn til ONE of them hears what I have to say.

[Rose Siding]

26. Shame, shame, shame. This is a deal breaker

Here is a valid fight and the party will acquiesce? That is willful impotence. There is no fight left in them.

[baby_bear]

28. Column by Dan Evans (former WA gov) is disgusting

I thought Evans, even though a Republican, was a pretty even-handed guy, but this column in today's Seattle Times is beyond the pale.
The fact is, this election is a statistical tie, and the state should have provided in advance for a second electin in such a case. But since it did not, a recount is what is allowed, and as such, so be it. It should NOT be halted because of lack of money or because the Republicans think the Dems should take their toys and go home. You just know what they would be doing were the count 42 votes in our favor.


Governor's race hand count would be inaccurate, unwise
By Daniel J. Evans
Special to The Times

<snip>

Washington state has just completed the most accurate count of a statewide election in its 115-year history. That's the good news. The bad news is, Democrats may demand yet another recount. If that happens, the next recount will be less accurate, not more.
...
To add insult to injury, taxpayers will likely get stuck with a $700,000 bill for this inaccurate recount. Why? While Democrats must pay for recounts in their chosen counties, if those select recounts put Gregoire ahead, state law requires a statewide recount at taxpayer expense.

The second reason not to do another recount: lawyers.

It's time to be honest about this. The point of challenging the outcome is not about proving the truth; it's about finding a way to change the result. If Christine Gregoire did not believe there was a chance that challenging the results would change the outcome, she wouldn't do it.

The unpleasant truth is, a pure hand count subjects the whole process to more second-guessing, more trips to the courthouse, and more judges acting as elections officials. In a close race, if lawyers can cherry-pick the right precincts or counties, pick the right judges, challenge enough ballots and change enough votes, the result could be changed

</snip>

Maybe this piece of tripe will help convince the DNC to chip in on this effort. I am just disgusted.

b_b

[Rose Siding]

29. CALL THEM. Help us! This is 42 votes and we're GIVING it to them!

The DNC: 202-863-8000

Please help us here in WA State.

[trudyco]

31. I just called-gave them an earful from CO n/t

[NVMojo]

30. I thought the Kerry campaign gave the DNC money??

[trudyco]

32. Does Gregoire have fund drive website? I'll give -

and can they hand recount the presidential race while they are at it?
I'll dig in one more time (already let the DNC know what I think of them). I'm so disgusted with the DNC just rolling over on everything. It's 42 votes for Chrissakes! And the tabulators could very well be putting in a small pad - something that goes under the radar and can be called an "error" that adds up to a win for the Raunchy Republicans again.

Sorry charities I usually give to this time of year - the dems are getting my $ this year though many don't deserve it.

Trudyco

[rehema]

39. Here is the link to donate to Gregoire

"Washington state law requires the party requesting the recount to pay for it, and it will cost at least $750,000. The Democratic Party is committed to this recount, but they need your immediate donation today to make it happen. Please give today."

https://www.democrats.org/support/

[LisaM]

34. Pay for selected counties; make the state pay for the rest

Despite what Chris Vance (WA state Republican chair) and Dan Evans spew, there really hasn't been a recount yet - they have simply fed the same ballots through the same machines. The ballots need to be inspected. Why should the Democrats pay for the whole thing? They will pay for a few counties, the results will likely change at that point, and then the state will pick up the tab for the rest. This is how it works here. State law mandates that you can just pay for a few counties; why not take advantage of that?

[googly]

35. If Gregoire wins hand count, Rossi can ask for another handcount

so there could be TWO handcounts before the election is decided.
Me thinks DNC does not want to spend the $700,000 and hoard it
for 2006/2008? I have no clue!

[truehawk]

37. This has to be one of the most pennywise pound foolish moves EVER