Ensign Formally Requests Recount

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U.S. Rep. John Ensign (R-Nev.) formally requested a recount of the closest U.S. Senate race in the nation, in which he lost to incumbent Democrat Harry Reid by 401 votes.

At a Nov. 30 press conference in Las Vegas, Mr. Ensign said he has already raised the $59,000 he needs to reimburse election officials for the recount, which is expected to be completed by Dec. 14.

Mr. Ensign and state Republican party officials are discounting fraud as a factor in the closeness of the race, blaming instead problems in counting ballots in the Nov. 3 election. The outcome of the race was not known until Nov. 12 because of problems in counting absentee ballots in Washoe County, which includes Reno.

The election was closely watched by trucking executives because of Mr. Reid’s opposition to triple trailer trucks. American Trucking Associations and several trucking companies put a combined $200,000 into television commercials educating Nevada residents about the voting record of Mr. Ensign.

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