Bye Bye Bayou
Don't count on any MN-like recount in the Shreveport-based LA-04 House race. Even as yesterday's official vote tally showed Caddo Parish DA Paul Carmouche (D) picking up six votes from election night (12/6), Carmouche's team was preparing to concede. Physician John Fleming (R) still leads Carmouche by 350 votes.
That's because the Shreveport Times reports that even if all the uncounted provisional and spoiled ballots went to Carmouche, he'd still fall about 150 votes shy of beating Fleming. The state is expected to certify the results 12/11. Carmouche spokesperson Bert Kaufman: "As soon as the election results are certified by the secretary of state, we will concede."
This result likely means Dems officially picked up 21 seats this cycle. A recount is scheduled for next week in VA-05, but the atty Tom Perriello (D) is likely to prevail there, giving Dems their 21st pickup of the cycle.
UPDATE: It appears some wires on team Carmouche are crossed. Carmouche told KSLA-TV yesterday that the DNC wants him to "pursue the recount at all costs." Which is it? We'll know in a few days when the vote is certified.
(TIM SAHD)
Sad day here on the Bayou.