All In Goode Time
Three weeks after Election Day, the VA Board of Elections certified atty Tom Perriello's (D) 745-vote victory 11/24, but Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA 05) isn't about to give up. He promised to file papers today requesting a recount, according to the Roanoke Times.
Perriello's margin of victory is .06% -- well below the .5% margin that gives Goode the option to seek a "state-financed recount." Officials expect the process to take three to four weeks.
If Perriello's lead holds throughout a recount -- as expected -- Dems will have a net gain of 21 seats. Two other races are still in recounts: In OH-15, where state Sen. Steve Stivers (R) leads '06 nominee Mary Jo Kilroy (D), but many expect provisional ballots to carry Kilroy to victory; and in CA-04, where state Sen. Tom McClintock (R) leads '06 nominee Charlie Brown (D) by 1,566 votes, and has all but declared victory. If OH-15 goes Dem and CA-04 goes GOP, Dems will have a net gain of 22 seats when those recounts are factored in.
LA will hold two general election contests 12/6, but embattled Rep. Bill Jefferson (D-LA 02) is expected to easily win re-eletion. The key race is in LA-04, where Dems have the opportunity to pick up another seat with the socially conservative Caddo Parish DA Paul Carmouche (D). But GOPers are rallying behind physician John Fleming (R), whose campaign benefited financially from a fundraiser with VP Cheney late last week. A Dem win there would give them another pickup this cycle.
(TIM SAHD)