Vt. Official Count Gives Dem Shumlin Primary Win

Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin has won the Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to official results released Friday.

Shumlin, who proclaimed victory after unofficial results had him with a 192-vote lead over state Sen. Doug Racine, outpolled Racine by 197 votes, according to a tally released Friday by the Secretary of State's office. The results are official but still must be certified, which will happen when a canvassing board made up of representatives of all three major parties meets to review them.

It was unknown whether Racine would seek a recount. Campaign manager Amy Shollenberger said he would make an announcement Friday afternoon, but she wouldn't say what it was.

Under Vermont law, if an initial count shows one candidate trailing by less than 2 percent of the total votes cast, the candidate who's behind can request a recount. According to the results released Friday, 74,634 ballots were cast in Tuesday's election.

Shumlin didn't immediately return telephone calls seeking comment on the results.

"It's wait and see," he said earlier in the day as the vote totals were still being tabulated.

Shumlin and Racine were the leading vote getters in the five-way primary, which was to determine the Democrats' nominee for the Nov. 2 general election. Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie is the Republican nominee.

Incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, is stepping down after his fourth term.

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, who finished third with 17,580 votes, said she would not seek a recount.

"We need to focus on beating Brian Dubie," she said.