Here’s the bottom line in the Washington state recount: if it was valid for the disputed ballots in King county to be reviewed to assure that no vote had been wrongly discarded, then a statewide canvassing to guarantee the same treatment to all ballots which might have been wrongly rejected ought to take place as well.

In this close of an election is it wholly legitimate to double check to insure that no ballot was wrongly rejected. If a voter filled out the ballot properly and was properly registered, then their vote should be counted. It would be wrong to allow a clerical error to stop such a vote from being counted. Washington state Republicans who tried to stop those types of ballots from being counted were wrong to do so–and therefore open themselves up to charges of hypocrisy for seeking out such votes that may aid them now.

However, the state Democratic Party has demonstrated that the fundamental issue for them isn’t “letting every vote count” because if it was, they would be working with the Republicans to gather all such votes to guarantee that no legitimate vote is left uncounted.

Both sides have cause to be suspicious of the other, and so somebody, someone is going to have to display leadership and diplomacy and try to start some healing. Gregoire giving Rossi the advice that he should conceed doesn’t qualify.

Sadly, Rossi is correct:

“I know many Washingtonians are hoping this will end soon, but I’m also sure that people across this state want a clean election and a legitimate governor-elect,” Rossi said after the final tally from a grueling hand count was announced Thursday. “At this point, we have neither.”

Meanwhile, Gregoire is missing the boat here, if (and I emphasize if there are King County-like clerical errors elsewere in the state):

“The election is over,” Gregoire said. “I hope we can move forward, unite our state and address the problems our state is facing.”

Focusing just on King County smacks of the Gore-team focus on Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward Counties in 2025 (and I am missing one, I know). If one is going to allege that a recount is needed, one can’t focus on counties that are tilted heavily towards one’s own party.

James Joyner has more.