Murphy's Lead Doubles, But Recounting Stalls in the Absence of a Qualified Republican Official

ALBANY—Democrats are accusing Republicans of walking away from the counting table in Dutchess County with the absentee ballots from three towns still unopened, thereby stalling a recount of the election between Scott Murphy and Jim Tedisco for Kirsten Gillibrand's open House seat. One of the Republicans charged with adjudicating ballot objections took the day off to attend a baseball game. Results released this morning by the State Board of Elections show that with more results in from Columbia and Washington counties, Murphy's lead has more than doubled, to 178. In Dutchess, things have come to a halt. In order for the recount to proceed, elections officials from both sides must be present.