Reports are trickling in that Allen West may be gaining some ground as the initial count of votes continues. However, it remains to be seen if the margin will narrow to the point at which West can force a recount.
From The Blaze:
Rep. Allen West is leading by more than 300 votes in Palm Beach County, Fla., a hopeful sign for the Tea Party favorite fighting for his political life after Tuesday’s election, a source told TheBlaze.
No winner has been declared in the congressional race between the Republican West and his Democratic opponent Patrick Murphy, though Murphy had a 2,456-vote lead in the unofficial vote total.
But a Republican observer who has been monitoring the counting process said West pulled ahead in Palm Beach County on Thursday as the initial count continues. Ballot printing errors led to ballots that could not be fed through scanners in some areas, so Florida election workers have been forced to reproduce their contents onto new ballots that can be read properly, the observer said. As the votes are counted for the first time, West has taken a slim lead.
It’s a separate issue from what’s happening in St. Lucie County, where West has demanded a recount over “disturbing irregularities.” He filed a motion Wednesday to have paper ballots counted and to impound voting machines and all paper ballots cast, WFOR-TV reported.
The observer called St. Lucie County more Republican in makeup while Palm Beach County is a mix but overall Democratic.
“The fact that he is ahead, period, even in this county is a good sign,” the observer said.
Allen West is seeking to enjoin election supervisors to impound voting machines and ballots. The hearing West has scheduled in Palm Beach County for noon today has led to action on the part of his opponent. The move also has not been met with a welcome attitude from the election Supervisor in Palm Beach County.
Shortly after the Palm Beach hearing was rescheduled, Murphy’s attorney filed paperwork to intervene. Murphy’s attorney Gerald Richman told The Palm Beach Post the court papers filed by West’s attorneys were riddled with errors, including failing to name a defendant, and saying that West would be “irreparably” harmed if the ballots and machines were not impounded.
Ken Spillias, attorney for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher, filed court papers saying West’s “invitation for judicial intervention in the middle of an election is nothing short of an invitation to chaos,” according to the Post.
With 100 percent of precincts in, The Associated Press still has not declared a District 18 winner. After election night, Murphy garnered 160,328 votes to West’s 157,872. That’s a difference of 2,456. Percentage-wise, it’s 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent, or a 0.8 percent lead favoring Murphy.
Only a 0.5 percent margin of victory or less triggers a recount in Florida. Counties have to report unofficial results to the state by noon Saturday to determine that margin, said state Division of Elections spokesman Kevin Cate.
We’ll continue to watch this story as it develops.
Update 1:50 p.m. — Judge denies request by Rep. Allen West to seize ballots, voting machines for recount:
Two court hearings requested by Rep. Allen West and his attorneys — one here in West Palm Beach, another in St. Lucie County — supposed to take place at noon to demand a recount in his loss to Patrick Murphy in the District 18 race.
The hearing in St. Lucie County was cancelled, but the one in West Palm Beach got under way with lawyers for West, Murphy and the Supervisor of Elections addressing the judge. West’s lawyers say their big concern is securing the ballots for a possible recount.
Judge David Crow appeared impatient with arguments from West’s attorneys. He took a brief recess at 12:40 p.m., saying he’d return in 15 minutes with an announcement.
When Crow returned shortly before 1 p.m., he announced he was denying West’s motion for an injunction, effectively leaving it to the county elections officials to follow procedures to determine a winner in the race.
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Comments
Only West would fight like this.
The likes of John Boehner couldn’t wait to get to a microphone to capitulate.
Re Boehner’s statements during Diane Sawyer’s interview: if you don’t fight to remove this clown as Speaker of the House before January, take the rantings you might otherwise post here and write them on your bathroom mirror.
I share your assessment of John Boehner. I learned yesterday that the Speaker of the House doesn’t have to be a Congressman (source). That being the case, Congress should elect an outsider with real stones rather than golf balls.
Elect Dick Cheney as speaker of the House just to see the democrats and Obama lose their minds.
Hpnk!
Fully cognizant that there are countless cite-able examples of the depravity that besets our culture, but this one stands out.
A 29 year old who’s never accomplished anything except being caught drunk taking aimless punches at the cops versus a distinguished, decorated Army officer.
Yikes, we be in big trouble when voters cannot distinguish as to who of these two candidates has more wisdom.
Who says ‘voters’ distinguished anything? I believe profoundly well-organized voter fraud was in operation, not just in West’s campaign, but nationally.
There is significant evidence to back this up. Congress should have hearings on this. Think Boehner will do it, or will he ask Diane Sawyer first?
Why, oh why, is there not photo ID in every state? Even the UN inpsectors wanted to know.
By reelecting Boehner as Speaker proves the the GOP must be desolved entirely
He hasn’t been elected for the 2013 term yet. There is still a very real opportunity to boot him out.
If only West had run for President, this wouldn’t be an issue.
How can we support West in this??
pray for him to have strength and guidance.
I’m glad you asked.
Send money
http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/
Lawyers are expensive
Send money
http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/
Circuit Court Judge David F. Crow denied Allen West’s motion for injunction to impound voting machines and paper ballots in Palm Beach County.
Crow said West’s motion “fell woefully short of what’s required” and said the Legislature is in charge of election laws, while the courts are meant to interpret them.
Crow said there was no evidence any statute had been breached.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/nov/09/judge-denies-wests-motion-to-impound-voting-in/
“the judge said such a request should be taken up with the legislature, not the courts, adding that it’s hard to contest results that haven’t been finalized.”
Earlier Friday, West had written a letter to the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections in which he expressed “serious concerns” over the vote-counting process there.
The two-page letter to Gertrude Walker is actually signed by his campaign manager, Tim Edson, but the West camp claims discrepancies in vote totals. Below is an excerpt from the letter:
We understand that on election night, your office re-ran some 15,000 ballots that were cast on the first three days of early voting,” the letter dated Nov. 9 said. “We understand that your office claimed there was some ‘malfunction’ of the memory cards used in the optical scanners those first three days. We have the following questions.
1. Why was this error known and not communicated to all candidates until 2 a.m. on election night?
2. Did your office attempt to load the allegedly malfunctioning cards into the central computer system? What happened exactly when you attempted (to) read the malfunctioning cards?
3. Could you publicly provide a list, by precinct, of the following numbers from the voter registration system?
a. Number of voters appearing on election day and signing the e-pollbook
b. Number of voters signing the e-pollbook during early voting
c. Number of absentee ballots returned
The letter goes on to cite specific precincts where the West camp claims the number of ballots turned in and the number of votes counted do not match. In some cases, the West camp says some votes may have been counted twice, and others may not have been counted at all.
“Given the ongoing canvass process, and the extremely close nature of this election, we would appreciate a response by noon on Friday, November 9,” the letter said. “If satisfactory answers are not forthcoming, we may need to direct our attorneys to take further legal actions to resolve these serious legal questions about the canvass of the election in St. Lucie County.”
Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html#ixzz2Bkf8SUQU
Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html#ixzz2Bkf1VUjq
Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html#ixzz2BkelwD7K
Read more: http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html#ixzz2BkeZGX8G
http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html
http://www.wpbf.com/news/politics/West-Murphy-Day-4-Judge-denies-West-s-injunction-request/-/8788770/17342928/-/ldjrooz/-/index.html
A letter from West Campaign office stated…
“We understand that on election night, your office re-ran some 15,000 ballots that were cast on the first three days of early voting,” the letter dated Nov. 9 said. “We understand that your office claimed there was some ‘malfunction’ of the memory cards used in the optical scanners those first three days. We have the following questions.
1. Why was this error known and not communicated to all candidates until 2 a.m. on election night?
2. Did your office attempt to load the allegedly malfunctioning cards into the central computer system? What happened exactly when you attempted (to) read the malfunctioning cards?
3. Could you publicly provide a list, by precinct, of the following numbers from the voter registration system?
a. Number of voters appearing on election day and signing the e-pollbook
b. Number of voters signing the e-pollbook during early voting
c. Number of absentee ballots returned
The letter goes on to cite specific precincts where the West camp claims the number of ballots turned in and the number of votes counted do not match. In some cases, the West camp says some votes may have been counted twice, and others may not have been counted at all.
“Given the ongoing canvass process, and the extremely close nature of this election, we would appreciate a response by noon on Friday, November 9,” the letter said. “If satisfactory answers are not forthcoming, we may need to direct our attorneys to take further legal actions to resolve these serious legal questions about the canvass of the election in St. Lucie County.”
Listening to the days’ events and GOP peoples’ reactions, I’ll say this: I have never heard such collective stupidity in my life — and from smart people. And, predictably, from dumb people and cowardly people.
We have one problem — ONE: we are up against skilled leftist propagandists who are entrenched in the media and in government. PERIOD.
Smart people would fight propaganda with better propaganda. Considering we have truth on our side, we’d win. STUPID people, run to the arms of the propagandists and/or listen to their advice. (The GOP.)
Our journey downward is not over — in fact, it’s just beginning. If control of the GOP is left to the Boehners, these times will a cookie cutter of the 1930s on, only there won’t be a WWII to get us out of it.
I don’t believe most people have their ears to the ground as most of us here do. I believe there is going to be a revolt against the GOP of the likes these other people could not imagine. We will likely have three major parties, with the democrats keeping perpetual power. But there is another way. (See propaganda, above.)
When a Republican is a victim of voter fraud, judges yawn and tell them to stop wasting the court’s time.
When a Democrat loses by a close margin and wants to commit voter fraud, judges bend over backwards to give them whatever they want.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the GOP had helped the Dems rig this one. I think Boehner & Co. HATE West even more than the Dems do; West speaks the truth, doesn’t back down, and rocks the boat for the Establishment Traitors.
I’m getting tired of spectating as these people cheat Americans.
Inviting chaos?!! NO what we have is Chaos. He is DEMANDING ORDER.
This is out of control.
I believe at this point if obama had lost one crucial swing state, ballot challenges would have immediately happened everywhere. When the Romeney campaign loses, even with inconsistent numbers and facts, multiple questions of fraud, they just go home to lick their wounds, even when the numbers are questionable…Except Mr. West. He appears to be a fighter who will not give up until he is sure that his election was not rigged. Proving hanky panky in his election race could be a good start to verifying other election day results that in my opionion just do not add up..
A cardinal rule of electoral politics in the US is that recounts continue until the Democrat wins, then are immediately suspended.
The excerpt from West’s letter stated:
“We understand that on election night, your office re-ran some 15,000 ballots that were cast on the first three days of early voting,” the letter dated Nov. 9 said. “We understand that your office claimed there was some ‘malfunction’ of the memory cards used in the optical scanners those first three days. We have the following questions.
1. Why was this error known and not communicated to all candidates until 2 a.m. on election night?
2. Did your office attempt to load the allegedly malfunctioning cards into the central computer system? What happened exactly when you attempted (to) read the malfunctioning cards?
3. Could you publicly provide a list, by precinct, of the following numbers from the voter registration system?
a. Number of voters appearing on election day and signing the e-pollbook
b. Number of voters signing the e-pollbook during early voting
c. Number of absentee ballots returned
The letter goes on to cite specific precincts where the West camp claims the number of ballots turned in and the number of votes counted do not match. In some cases, the West camp says some votes may have been counted twice, and others may not have been counted at all.”
Some questions…
Nationwide, how many early votes were “rerun” ?
Nationwide, how do the number of people who signed into vote at the polls, match the number of votes that were actually cast?
Nationwide, how many Military absentee ballots were actually counted vs. cast or even were submited in time ?
And then there is the ongoing issue of people voting multiple times under different names because of no picture voter ID laws.
Not even a whimper from the republican party pertaining to these question? Except from Representive West.
With obama’s record and actions, I find it SO hard to believe that less people voted for Romney in 2012 than McCain in 2008. Even though Romney does not come off as obama like hip, the base was still fired up going into the election. Much more so than 2008. Yet less voted for Romney than McCain ?!? Does NOT smell right. In fact something smells quite ROTTEN…
In 2008 when the gopE pronounced that it was another squish’s turn I refused to vote for John McLame. Even though Republicans tried to intimidate me by his military service especially in the Hanoi Hilton I said .”No way, I’m done voting for the lesser of 2 evils.”
When Sarah Palin, a proven true reformer, was chosen as McCain’s running mate I acquiesced, even though she was at the bottom of the ticket and went to the polls and pulled the lever for McCain.
After the loss in 2008 I vowed that I would never vote for Democrat lite again, and I meant it.
I reside in Florida. During the Florida primary season it was obvious that the gopE’s new “Chosen One” was Etch-a-sketch. I knew he would be the nominee against the will of conservatives. I knew last January that I would be staying home just like many other conservatives who stayed home in 2008 even though a conservative was at the bottom of the ticket.
The gopE can either finally decide that it is a conservative’s turn or get used to losing and being the permanent minority party.
Millions of conservatives joined me in protest against Etch-a-sketch’s arrogance and the gopE’s hubris. Millions more will join us in 2016 when the gopE again gives the mantle to Jebbie and his lap dog who deserves an Academy Award for his performance of a conservative,Marco Rubio, who I might add did some “severe conservative” arm twisting as former speaker of the Florida House to get the redistricting deal done which screwed Allen West and get the Florida primary moved up to screw Newt. Rubio is in debt for millions and owes his life to the company store, the Bush mafia machine.
Hey capito?
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2012/11/breaking-allen-west-winning-fla-18.html?spref=tw
Get up off your butt and fight for a true warrior now instead of the panty waist you chose to support who lost because he refused to take it to Obama!
Some interesting details emerging on location at the counting stations in Pt. St. Lucie…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/robbins-report/2012/nov/9/allen-west-asks-recount-amid-growing-vote-count-sc/
BOOTS ON THE GROUND UPDATE FROM THE ALLEN WEST ELECTION COUNT VIA Gary Angelo Galiano: “We win by 195”
This should mean that there will be a FINAL RECOUNT in Tallahassee of ALL the votes in this election!! It is my understanding that they will now go thru ALL the ballots and make this official! Could take a week or two!
I cannot thank the patriots of South Florida who did some unbelievably tireless work.
THANK YOU!!!!!
BOOTS ON THE GROUND UPDATE FROM THE ALLEN WEST ELECTION COUNT VIA Gary Angelo Galiano: “We win by 195”
This should mean that there will be a FINAL RECOUNT in Tallahassee of ALL the votes in this election!! It is my understanding that they will now go thru ALL the ballots and make this official! Could take a week or two!
I cannot thank the patriots of South Florida who did some unbelievably tireless work.
THANK YOU!!!!!