Clinton, Obama await NM caucus tally; Dem officials under fire

[jefferson_dem]

Clinton, Obama await NM caucus tally; Dem officials under fire
By Heather Clark, Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 08:25:41 PM MST

ALBUQUERQUE -- Democrats prepared Wednesday to examine nearly 17,000 provisional ballots that will determine a winner in New Mexico's tightly contested presidential caucus, as party officials came under sharp criticism for how they managed the troubled election.

Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson said he was ''deeply disturbed'' by problems and long lines at caucus sites, where volunteer workers were overwhelmed by greater-than-expected turnout on Super Tuesday.

''As this very close election shows, every vote is important and every vote must count. Anything less is unacceptable. In addition, the delay in results was extremely disappointing,'' Richardson said. ''I have expressed my frustration to Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon.''

Colon said late Wednesday he had not met with nor talked to Richardson.

With 180 of 184 of precincts reporting Wednesday, Clinton held a slim lead of 153 votes 64,530 votes compared with 64,377 for Obama, according to preliminary results. That amounted to roughly 48 percent for each candidate. eel New Mexico is the last of 22 states that held Democratic primaries and caucuses Tuesday to report a winner.

The caucus, which was run by the state's Democratic Party, was riddled with troubles with reports coming from across the state on of exasperated voters waiting in lines for up to three hours and polling sites running short of ballots.

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http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_8189772

[MadBadger]

1. Last I read about ten minutes ago, she took at 1,000 vote lead

[ursi]

2. well, well, Bill Richardson!