Virginia Recount Verifies Win

A recount Wednesday upheld Republican Bob McDonnell’s narrow victory for attorney general in the closest statewide election in modern Virginia history.

McDonnell gained 37 votes in the statewide recount.

The final vote, certified Wednesday night by a three-judge panel of the Richmond Circuit Court, was 970,981 for McDonnell and 970,621 for Democrat Creigh Deeds, a 360-vote margin.

Deeds had demanded the recount after the State Board of Elections certified McDonnell the winner of the Nov. 8 election.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Deeds said after learning the results. “The whole experience of campaigning for statewide office has been humbling and gratifying for me.”

He called McDonnell and congratulated him on the victory after preliminary recount results showed he could not overcome the margin.

McDonnell, weary but relieved, said Deeds wished him a Merry Christmas.

“It’s been a long ride,” McDonnell said.

Totals from voting machines were rechecked in most of Virginia’s 134 localities Tuesday. Results from each of the state’s 2,500 precincts were sealed in envelopes, along with any challenged ballots, and delivered by state police to Richmond for a final tally and review by the judges.