Posted on 12/02/2004 7:45:29 PM PST by FairOpinion
COLUMBUS, Ohio - John Kerry (news - web sites)'s campaign has joined a lawsuit by third-party presidential candidates seeking a recount in Ohio. A lawyer for the campaign said Thursday the campaign does not question the Democrat's loss but wants any counting to take place statewide.
Kerry's campaign this week joined the suit filed by Green and Libertarian party candidates seeking a recount of the vote in Delaware County. A judge in that county issued a restraining order blocking that request, but the order expired Thursday. A hearing is set in federal court in Columbus on Friday on the recount request.
"The Kerry-Edwards campaign felt it had to intervene," said Daniel Hoffheimer, a Cincinnati lawyer who represents the campaign in Ohio. "We did not want a recount to go forward if it only was 87 (of Ohio's 88) counties."
The two minor parties also have asked for a statewide recount, but a judge ruled that cannot begin until Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell certifies the vote, likely on Monday. The parties say they have raised the $113,600 fee the state requires to conduct the recount.
The Kerry campaign isn't disputing the outcome of President Bush (news - web sites)'s Nov. 2 victory in Ohio — a 136,000-vote margin, based on unofficial results — but wants to make sure any recount is "done accurately and completely," Hoffheimer said.
Hoffheimer said he knew of no other challenge by the campaign to the national election results. Bush won the national popular vote by about 3 percentage points, but Ohio's 20 electoral votes would have been enough to turn the race for Kerry.
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing a group alleging fraud in the Ohio presidential election put off until at least Friday the filing of a challenge to the results. Cliff Arnebeck, who alleges that votes intended for Kerry were shifted to Bush, said his legal team needed more time to collect and analyze evidence. He said the filing could take place as late as Monday.
In another development, Rep. John Conyers (news, bio, voting record) Jr., D-Mich., sent a letter to Blackwell asking for his assistance in a House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) Democratic staff investigation of "election irregularities." That probe would be in addition to one sought by the Government Accountability Office.
Complaints received by congressional Democrats include disparities in vote totals for Democrats on the same ballot; too few voting machines in urban, Democrat-leaning precincts; and organized campaigns directing voters to the wrong polling place.
Blackwell's office is working with the GAO and "would be happy to fill in the gaps of information from the GAO and what Congressman Conyers is requesting," spokesman Carlo LoParo said. He said a review of media reports would answer many of Conyers' questions.
The problems in Ukraine are giving the Dems ideas.
John Who???
The count is over. Once the vote is certified, it then would be a contested election. Is he contesting the election or seeking a recount???
I'm glad to see the wackos wasting their money on this. Amazing how they are so blinded by hate that they are even willing to pour money into this lost cause.
I just wish that the campaigns would have to pay every penny for what a recount actually costs. If they want it counted that badly, they should pay the whole thing. Plus, it's not like it's gonna change anything!
As a taxpayer in Ohio, I STRONGLY PROTEST!!!
Our governor is Taft, a Republican, who has increased our taxes to the breaking point and put in other polices like a really irritating and completely useless environmental inspection program of cars.
Our budget is strained, and these outside clown losers come in and make us spend money so the COUNT is right. IDIOTS!!!!
Ohio taxpayers will be footing the bill for most of what the recount costs to do. I'd like mine to go for something more than an ego massage.
Maybe we could have a statewide vote on whether to let them get a recount with our money!! (just joking, y'all!)
It sounds to me the Kerry is paying lips service. I don't know how many times i have said this, but i can do this in my sleep. On Monday, the election will be certified, and given that the SCOOH is 5-3 republican, I doubt that they are going to send up a second slate of electors.
There may be a recount, but this would be easliy denied since the Kerry camp has acknowledged that it won't reverse the election, therefore technically it is not a contested election. Just because candidates have the money, deosn't mean a recount has to take place. Especially since all but the fringe is saying it is not going to reverse the election. What is it then??? Motioned denied.
Also as we discussed on other threads, we stated all the legal reasons and arguments why there will not be a recount in Ohio.
I was under the impression that the parties asking for the recount have to pay for it. Is this not true?
We get to laugh at them ALL OVER AGAIN!
BwaaaahAAAHAAHAAHAAHAAHAA!
;-/
I believe there is a nominal fee. However, it doesn't cover the man hours to conduct the recount.
What a waste of time.
Notice how Kerry doesn't want to pay for it. SO typical of liberals - cheap SOB's when it comes to THEIR money.
Okay, thanks for clueing me in. I thought the parties who asked had to pay the full tab.
Over on DU they are orgasmic about Arnebeck; some stated they began crying when they watched him on C-Span.
It would be a nice gesture on their part, wouldn't ya think? Nahhh, they don't really care about anyone but themselves.
Kerrys got to make up like 137,000 votes and 40% have already been tossed for not being registered or for being fraudelant votes like addressed to people like Dick Tracey and Mary Poppins. So this is an impossible task! Whats the point I wonder? Lurch is going to go down as a laughing stock just like AL Gore. And why soak the voters of Ohio for the expense? What did they ever do to him? Oh I forgot the majority voted for Bush!
They actually began crying? These people are ill! Mentally Ill!
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