Washington State Recount

Democrats Friday finally agreed to extend the unresolved Governor's race in Washington State. The Democrat's had agreed to pay the some $730,000 to Secretary of State Sam Reed which under state election rule, the state requesting the recount must finance it.

The final tally for the November 2nd election left the Democrat Attorney General Christine Gregoire 261 votes behind, however an even more recent machine count left Gregoire just losing by 42 votes. The Democrats requested a hand count, which promptly received a $200,000 contribution from Presidential Nominee John Kerry.

Paul Berendt, Chair of the Washington State Democrats stated "We're going to count every vote in every county, whether it's a Rossi county or a Gregoire county."

Democrats later filed a lawsuit requesting the rejected ballots be reconsidered.

State officials believe the final count will be received by December 23rd.