Virginia: McDonnell declared winner of A.G. race
The Roanoke Times reports: There were no balloons, no cheering throng of supporters, and no televised victory speech when Republican Bob McDonnell became the winner of the election for attorney general on Wednesday.
But, after enduring a painstaking recount of the closest statewide election in Virginia history, McDonnell preferred finality to fanfare.
McDonnell became the official winner Wednesday night when a three-judge panel in Richmond Circuit Court certified his 360-vote victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds. The judges signed a court order certifying the outcome shortly after state election officials completed a methodical recount process. Deeds phoned McDonnell to congratulate him at 7:15 p.m., about an hour before the judges signed off on the results.
"It's been a long ride," McDonnell said as he waited for the judges to wrap up the process. "I'm glad it's over."
The recount affirmed a victory that McDonnell had first claimed on the day after the Nov. 8 election. Deeds petitioned for a recount after returns certified by the state Board of Elections showed McDonnell winning by 323 votes. More than 1.94 million Virginians cast ballots in the contest. In the end, McDonnell had 970,981 votes to Deeds' 970,621. -- Political stories from The Roanoke Times -Close race finally ends; McDonnell beats Deeds