The Pros & Cons of a NH Recount

From Ron Paul. www.RonPaul2008.com

Recount? (1/12/08)

After a careful investigation, I have decided against seeking a recount in New Hampshire. I am confident that not asking for a recount is the right decision.

I carefully considered the arguments for and against a recount before instructing my campaign staff not to pursue it. Without a firm belief that vote fraud had taken place, and without the possibility that a recount would have increased the chances for success of our campaign, a recount would have diverted campaign resources, time, and energy away from crucial battles elsewhere.

We have taken concerns about vote fraud seriously. In Iowa, campaign volunteers carefully monitored the caucuses. Campaign staff placed Paul supporters in every precinct to watch and verify the voting and count. We had supporters phone in results from their precincts to a campaign hotline while others ensured that those numbers were reflected on the official display board at the Polk County Convention Center. The numbers our caucus watchers reported agreed with the official tally, and both results also aligned with the campaign’s internal polling. In relatively pro-Paul counties, our sampling pegged support at 11.5%. This is consistent with an overall 10% finish for the entire state.

In New Hampshire, while I would have hoped for a better result than eight percent, I am convinced that vote fraud played no role in this result. Rumors of vote fraud were investigated, and in the end they proved to be the result of errors in early media reports that were not reflected in the official numbers. In one notable case, when a campaign staff member contacted an individual who had on the evening of January 8 claimed that his vote had not been counted, the person said that he had made a mistake and that the next morning the error in reporting on a newspaper website had been corrected both in the media and -- most importantly -- in the official tally.

Many have expressed concerns that those ballots counted by machine yielded a 2% lower total than those counted by hand. However, machine counted vote totals were more than 2% lower for both John McCain and Mike Huckabee. Hand counted votes were more likely to be cast in rural areas. Results almost always vary between urban and rural areas.

My campaign staff and I have analyzed the numbers in New Hampshire and I have reached the conclusion that it was the high turnout -- not vote fraud or counting errors -- that left us with eight percent of the vote. Our total vote count of over 18,000 votes was well within what we projected given the efforts of our extensive statewide get-out-the-vote program, giving me no reason to believe that vote fraud played any role in the results of the Granite State’s primary.

In both Iowa and New Hampshire there is much to be proud of. Taking both states together, I am honored that over 30,000 people cast their vote for me -- more than either Rudy Giuliani or Fred Thompson. Unlike many other candidates’ efforts, our campaign for freedom is growing and our message is spreading.

Now is the time to redouble our efforts. Our resources must be spent on the upcoming primaries and caucuses, and on ensuring that, with your help, we organize every state yet to vote with our Precinct Leaders program.

We can't win primaries and caucuses that have already happened -- but we can win those yet to come. To become the Republican presidential nominee, a candidate must have 1,191 delegates. Iowa, Wyoming and New Hampshire determined only 32 delegates, so we have much opportunity remaining.

Today, I ask you to join me in focusing on the battles ahead as we continue our fight for liberty and our Constitution.

Sincerely,

Ron Paul

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That should put the recount requests and arguments to rest. Now, let's please move on and get back to work. Use the energy to something positive for the campaign. Let's go.....

Ron Paul 2008!

http://www.ronpaulvotecount.com/

My opinion is that a having recount would be a unnecessary time sink. Ron Paul is running a marathon race from state to state. It would sap time and energy out of him, both of which would be better spent in winning new supporters.You can't have it both ways, especially since time is one thing he has so little of before the primaries.

If you will forgive the analogy, it's like an invasion. You don't stop and fight the enemy at every point. You bypass him and move on to the objective.

And Ron Paul's objective should be the White House.

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"No matter how cynical you get, it's impossible to keep up!"

--Lily Tomlin

There is a real danger that a recount,will only end in validating a corrupt system. (As it seems to every 4 years)
Every NH recount sofar. Has shown it to be squeaky clean... (I think we know better though) A recount is going to happen. Let us hope its for the best... More Info blackboxvoting.org

However, the WHOLE ballot trail has to be assessed and found to be 'OK'. Else, there will be no telling how it may have been compromised.
Given that, the recount HAS to be done to ensure integrity, or to ferret out the lie, for vote fraud is a fact!

GET 'ER DONE!

x

Thanks to the brilliance of Albert Howard, we will have our recount.
What better place to have it than in a small state like NH?
If fraud is found, then this will be a warning to other states not to screw around.
We need to thank Mr. Howard over and over again for thinking of this strategy -- I mean he's crazy like a fox!
It would be very bad for the Paul campaign to do this...but to get it done like this, brilliant.

I just read on the NYT Blog this sentence:

"It was unclear why Mr. Howard requested the recount, and he could not be reached for comment."

Hah! They must be joking!

Once again, thank you Mr. Howard for doing this for RP.

Please take action for all upcoming elections and strawpolls:
Citizens Tool kit.
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit.html

Hillary stole her election and who knows what was done to RP's numbers. We should let it go because we need a Hillary win to position us as the only anti-war platform.

Bionic Ron Paul

It seems that voter fraud has already been established but was only caught because some of the precints were so small and the fraud so obvious. If they would commit fraud to such an extreme in these small precints it makes one wonder what is happening in the larger precints. Perhaps anyone who voted for Ron Paul should sign an affidavit to that effect and a class action lawsuit should be brought against the company for voter fraud. It would seem that these people's most basic right to be represented in an election has been circumvented. Is there any place online that is claiming to track the number of people who are voting for Ron Paul. Not only should Paul supporters be outraged but others as well. Unfortunately it seems only Paul supporters really even care about basic civil liberties anymore.

This will be a first, a FIFTH place candidate calling for a recount. Even if there are lost votes it will not be enough to make a serious change. The media will make so much fun of it that we will lose more votes in the future than we might gain in a recount.

Remember if they are errors they are probably there at some level for all candidates. If it was fixed why did the polls show mostly the same expected result right before the election? Where there really five times as many voters?

The most valuable thing to do is figure out why with all the volunteers, excellant message and money the antional campaign was not able to make a showing. Then chnage that FAST. For the first offiicial act of leadership the campaign might recommend that it would be better to focus our efforts on states that are still in play.

There are many things in this world that are wrong and certainly there are ulterior motives but but really there are much bigger issues for the campaign. Regardless of who counts the votes there is going to have to be a MUCH better effort at coordination nationally. Getting rid of electronic voting is a fine goal, do it after the election, there is no time to tackle that one now anyway.

You have to consider the unintended consequences of your actions and this has far more potential for harm than good.

Joe

Please use my donations to pay for a recount in N.H. How can a candidate expect his ground troops to get out there and fight for every vote for him, if the candidate won't even make the effort to verify every vote has been counted fairly when there is evidence of vote tampering? There are things that simply must take priority. Ron Paul and the campaign must pay whatever it takes to get a hand recount of votes in New Hampshire so as to get a definable picture of the accuracy of the electronic machines. I believe that Ron Paul owes this not only to his supporters but to all Americans so that we can get an early indication of these machines accuracy. This needs to be done immediately. If the Paul campaign refuses to pay for any hand counts I will take that as a betrayal to myself and all Americans. Someone needs to do this for us now. I would personally donate to a"recount fund" if the campaign would use it.
Gretchen Porter
Secretary Madison County Republican Central Committee. Montana

...as in posted below, that they WILL demand a recount. Sutton County folks who voted - please call 877-ronpaul during business hours today to reiterate if need be to HQ..................BUMP
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*** God bless Ron Paul ***
* Ron Paul For President *

Call 877-RONPAUL. They will listen especially if you are from New Hampshire and know that 1) you cast votes for Ron Paul and 2) they were not included in the total, i.e. Sutton County.

I do not see the thread active today. However I think Greenville was mentioned too as missing votes for Dr Paul.

I feel this is VERY URGENT that you CALL the Campaign NOW (during business hours).

You can also email mail@ronpaul2008.com or markcross@ronpaul2008.com. (the latter was given to me by Jennifer at Campaign HQ - have not emailed there yet myself.)

I feel that this the very least we can do. We MUST ASK DR PAUL TO ASK AND PAY FOR A RECOUNT.

Thank you.
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*** God bless Ron Paul ***
* Ron Paul For President *