What do they gain by stalling in Virginia?

[Parisle]

----A pretty fair number of pundits and reporters have already observed that Webb's victory margin will easily stand up to canvassing and a recount. Is Allen just being obstinate, or is there a purpose in delaying the inevitable? Could it even be simply to steal a little of the democrats' wind?

[billybob537]

1. NAH NAH NAH NAH

HEY HEY HEY GOOD BYE

[SoFlaJet]

2. they gain nothing

they already lost

[pacalo]

3. A combination of obstinance & stealing the Democrats' wind.

[truthisfreedom]

4. "they'll keep counting and re-counting until they get the result the want"

[Contrary1]

5. What's going on there?

Now they are showing : Precincts Reporting: 2458 of 2599 (94.57%)

J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,173,732 49.55%
G F Allen Republican 1,166,382 49.24%
G G Parker Independent Green 26,225 1.11%
Write Ins 2,361 0.10%
View Results by District Locality Total: 2,368,700


http://sbe.virginiainteractive.org/index.htm

[ksoze]

6. Saw that Too...

dropped in count %, but margin still about the same. Hope no funny stuff going on...

[Barack_America]

11. Sounds like in VA they put their absentees in ghost precints...

I'm hoping that this is also true for the provisionals and the decrease in reporting means that they've opened these ghost districts to count the provisionals. From the sounds of it, they counted the absentees last night.

Provisionals should swing Dem (I hope)

[ShortnFiery]

16. When did you last see a Democrat CHALLENGE a voter?

Democrats WANT all Americans to vote while Republicans are all about suppressing the vote - especially in poor and/or minority precincts. ;)

[LostinVA]

20. Yes and yes

[bemildred]

7. Time to "Get over it". nt

[Imagevision]

8. In 2000, Supreme Court recounted until Bush had lead, then ordered it stopped and we

all know what happened afterwards

[Thrill]

9. Can't accept Defeat

[SaveElmer]

10. If I were in Allen's position...

I would do the same...

There is no harm in waiting for the Canvass to be completed. I suspect if the margin is close to where it is now at the end of that process, he will concede without a recount...

Particularly if he wants to preserve any shred of future viability...

[ShortnFiery]

14. I think between the deer head and Macaca comment,

Allen has lost all shred of dignity and the least possibility of being elected "dog catcher" in Virginia ... especially if he drags this "petty whining" out much longer. Remember, most of the votes were cast using Diebold and the few paper ballots are optically scanned.

Put a fork in it Georgie boy, you're done! :P

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

12. Maybe they're hoping Webb will concede first.

I'll be honest with you; I was half expecting Webb to toss in the towel last night. Good on him for sticking it out.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Hey, being a former Marine, Webb knows good tactics even if he is

not a seasoned politican. Gee, I'm getting to like the guy's style as well as his respectable background. :thumbsup:

[LostinVA]

21. We/he knew the urban areas would go to him -- they are heavily blue

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Its an ancient move, perfected over time, tested in war, proven in the arena of public debate.

Its called "saving face'. :)

Its all he's got left. The stench of 'loser' will soon overcome him.

[marmar]

17. And then he can go back to his job as Grand Wizard for Virginia...

:hi:

[Lugnut]

19. Actually

I think that "saving face" ship has already sailed. Allen cooked his own goose.

[smb]

18. I Hope There Is A Recount

It won't change the outcome, but the whole "control of the Senate hinges on Virginia" news cycle will focus more attention on the FBI investigation of the Allen campaign's vote-suppression dirty tricks.

[LostinVA]

22. THAT'S why I'm betting there won't be a recount

[AZBlue]

23. Pundits and reporters? They don't decide elections.

And God help us if they ever do!

If Webb were about 7,000 votes behind Allen, what would you be saying then? I'd like it to be over as quickly as possible too, but it's a tight race - and that can take time.

[ShortnFiery]

24. It's NOT that tight given that Virginia runs sophisticated elections ...

Nope, if Allen were ahead of Webb he'd be on TV every hour DEMANDING that Webb concede.

They can't swing 7000 votes when the vast majority is cast on NON-Paper trail Diebold Machines.

If Allen rides this B.S. to the end and into December, he will not only lose the Senate Seat but any shred of hope that he can be Presidential in the future. :-)

[AZBlue]

25. I think he's already past that point - certainly is in my eyes!

I doubt it will drag to December - at least that's certainly not what I envisioned when I posted above. I was thinking days, maybe a week tops. Longer than that is just absurd, I agree.

[smb]

27. Too Late For That

he will not only lose the Senate Seat but any shred of hope that he can be Presidential in the future

He's already dead meat -- after pissing away what should have been an easy re-election and costing the Pubs the Senate in the process, he's got about as much chance of being nominated as Mark Foley.

[bemildred]

26. De Nile is not just a river. nt