Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s lead over Democrat Bill Nelson has narrowed to 15,068 votes out of more than 8 million cast in a race that is likely headed for a hand recount beginning on Sunday, Nelson’s lawyer said Friday.
Nelson, the Senate incumbent who has held the seat since 2000, has refused to concede the race. His lawyer, Marc Elias, told reporters Friday that the upcoming machine recount of all ballots this weekend will shrink Scott’s lead even further and below the 0.25 percent variance that will trigger a hand recount.
The hand recount will show Nelson won the election, he predicted.
“If I had to place a bet, it’s more likely than not Senator Nelson will prevail in a recount and be sworn in to another term in January,” Elias said.
Scott and Florida Republicans are furious at the turn of events.
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Scott declared victory Tuesday when his lead over Nelson was 56,764 votes. Scott is holding on to his claim to the seat. He blamed Broward County and Palm Beach election supervisors, both Democrats, for mishandling the election in a Thursday night press conference.
Scott has ordered Florida law enforcement to investigate Broward County’s Supervisor of Elections, Brenda Snipes, who the governor has accused Thursday of “mysteriously finding votes until the election turns out the way they want.”
Scott has sued Broward to force Snipes to reveal how many ballots remain uncounted.
Elias said Scott’s actions are not those “of someone who is winning,” and said the governor is trying to prevent legitimate ballots from being counted in order to preserve his victory.
“This is not a third-world dictatorship,” Elias said. “We do not let people seize ballots when they think they are losing.”
Florida law requires county election officials to complete canvassing for ballots by noon Saturday.
“The margin does continue to close as a result of lawful ballots being counted, and the counties are doing their jobs counting those ballots,” Elias, a partner at the Perkins Coie’s Political Law Group, said.
