BELLEVUE, Wash. – Republican Rob McKenna says it could take until Friday to know the winner of Washington’s closely contested governor’s race. With a little more than half the expected ballots counted, McKenna was trailing Democrat Jay Inslee by about two-and-a-half percentage points.
Just as the polls predicted, this was a close race – too close to call on Election Night. McKenna took the stage to cheers in a room filled with disappointment over the presidential outcome. McKenna then delivered a message we’ve heard before from a Republican candidate for governor on Election Night. Just wait a few more days.
Rob McKenna: “But this year it will be worth the wait (applause).”
Later, McKenna confidently predicted late arriving ballots will favor him.
Rob McKenna: “More than enough to offset the early deficit. So when all the ballots are counted we believe we’re going to win.”
Meanwhile in Seattle, Democrat Jay Inslee all but declared victory at a gathering of fired up Democratic Party faithful.
Jay Inslee: “I believe tonight our state has taken another step forward and we have elected a forward looking governor and I fully intend to be that governor (applause).”
Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network
