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

By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter

Christine Gregoire

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"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.

	Dino Rossi

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