N.M. Officially Chalked Up in Gore’s Column

After a recheck of disputed votes in one county, Vice President Al Gore was declared the winner of New Mexico’s five electoral votes. In the final count, Democrat Gore defeated George W. Bush by 368 votes.

Bush, the Republican nominee, picked up 115 votes in a hand recount in Roosevelt County, not enough to overturn Gore’s statewide lead. County officials rechecked some presidential votes in response to a GOP request.

New Mexico’s presidential results became official Thursday, according to Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron.

“We are amending the canvass sheets to reflect those numbers and as of 5 p.m. [Thursday] the canvass has been certified. . . . We have completed our job,” said Vigil-Giron, a Democrat who is one of three state canvassing board members.

But by Thursday night, the board’s chairman, Republican Gov. Gary Johnson, scheduled a meeting of the board for Tuesday. Johnson wants the board to formally accept the amended returns, his spokeswoman said.

The recount was closely watched because Bush had hoped to increase his electoral vote total in case Gore succeeded in peeling away GOP electors in the closely fought presidential campaign.

Ray Sullivan, a spokesman for Texas Gov. Bush’s campaign, said no decision had been made on whether to ask for a recount in New Mexico. Candidates for any office have six working days to seek recounts, until Dec. 8.