Tim James to request recount in all 67 counties

Tim James has decided his campaign can afford to recount the votes in all 67 counties in his bid to pick up almost 170 additional votes and secure a spot in the Republican runoff for governor, according to his campaign spokesman.
James, a Greenville businessman, must request the recounts by noon Thursday. He requested recounts in 40 counties on Wednesday after he finished 167 votes behind state Rep. Robert Bentley in the battle to be the second Republican in the runoff.
Former state senator and two-year college system Chancellor Bradley Byrne finished ahead of the pack of seven Republicans and secured a spot in the July 13 runoff.
James said Tuesday, after a count of the provisional ballots, that the campaign would ask for the most populated counties to be recounted first and would have the other counties counted if the campaign had the resources.
His spokesman, Brett Hall, said Wednesday night that they believed the campaign would be able to have the votes recounted in all 67 counties for less than $200,000.
"Tim is happy to have a full statewide recount," Hall said.
The campaign that requests the recount, according to the secretary of state's office and the Alabama Republican Party, must pay for the recount.
Hall said campaign officials will be driving throughout the state Thursday to serve petitions requesting the recount to county party officials.
He said probate judges in some of the state's most populated counties including Jefferson and Mobile said the recount could be done there in a day or less.
"This will not be drawn out," Hall said.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democratic nominee Ron Sparks in the November general election.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen