Primary results show Shumlin won, Racine requests recount

Doug Racine, candidate for governor, announced Friday that he will request a recount of the gubernatorial primary election results. In the meantime, the top three Democratic vote getters - Racine, Peter Shumlin and Deb Markowitz - sent out a "unity letter" Sunday.
The Vermont Secretary of State has released the unofficial certified results, which showed Racine behind Shumlin by fewer than 200 votes. The official vote totals will be posted at the secretary of state's Web site Tuesday.
On Monday, the three Democrats sent "A Message of Unity" email, saying that Peter Shumlin will campaign as the presumptive nominee, but all three will work together to elect a Democrat because of their shared values and desire to defeat Republican Brian Dubie in November. See letter below.
Racine held a press conference at the Richmond Town Center Friday afternoon to announce his decision.
‘I’ve just spoken with Peter, and I told him I would be requesting a recount,’ Racine announced. ‘Peter said he would support my decision.’ Racine explained that the results of fewer than 200 votes separating him and Shumlin with well over 70,000 ballots counted amounted to a 1/4 of 1% difference. ‘That is less than 1 vote per town,’ Racine commented.
Shumlin said in response: "I am encouraged by the unofficial certified numbers released by the Secretary of State today, which show me receiving more votes than the other contenders. Doug is a great candidate who ran a great race. I understand that Doug is going to exercise his legal right to a recount and I respect his decision."
Racine added that the he has spoken to and heard from hundreds of supporters in the past few days and the overwhelming sentiment was that a recount was necessary. ‘I owe it to them and to Vermonters to be sure this is the correct outcome.’ Racine also noted that he has spoken to a few town clerks, who urged him to call for the recount.
Racine stressed that he would do everything he can to expedite the recount process, and in the meantime, he would urge his supporters to get involved in the Vermont Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign.
Racine noted that while he knows the odds are against a different outcome, we need to know for sure.
‘In the end, this is about our democratic process. Every Vermonter deserves to know that his or her vote was counted correctly.’
UNITY LETTER
8.29.2010
Dear Vermonter,
As we prepare for the recount process we wanted to share with you our plan to ensure that no matter what the results of the recount are, we will beat Brian Dubie in November.
With the unofficial results showing Peter winning by 197 votes, we all agree that he should continue to campaign as the presumptive nominee. We’ve also agreed to campaign together while the recount takes place. Our vision for Vermont is dramatically different than Brian Dubie’s and as this process unfolds, it is critical that Vermonters understand the contrast between Brian’s vision and our own.
We will all be working together over the coming days to ensure that the recount process happens as quickly and effectively as possible so the nominee has as much time as possible to beat Brian. In addition, the three of us will continue to work together to ensure that fundraising, staffing and other efforts essential to the campaign continue.
In many ways, this may have been the most extraordinary primary in the history of Vermont. All five candidates articulated their vision for Vermont without disparaging each other. The reason that roughly 75,000 Vermonters turned out to vote is because they were energized by these positive visions. Whatever the results of the recount, the Democratic nominee will have this energy, passion, and excitement behind them as they take on Brian Dubie.
Thank you for all of your support.
Best,
Peter, Doug & Deb