Ohio makes it official:Bush wins by 119,000

The state of Ohio today certified its presidential election results, showing President Bush beat John Kerry by 119,000 votes.

While the margin of victory is less than the preliminary numbers showed – a 136,000-vote difference – it was not a close enough race to trigger an automatic recount.

Bush brought in 2.86 million votes, or 51 percent, to Kerry's 2.74 million votes, or 49 percent.

In response to charges of vote fraud leveled by some Kerry supporters, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, has steadfastly denied a conspiracy.

"This was an election where you have some glitches but none of these glitches were of a conspiratorial nature and none of them would overturn or change the election results," Blackwell said.

Ohio was the pivotal state in the Nov. 2 election. Its 20 electoral votes gave Bush more than the 270 needed for re-election.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik plan to request a recount in Ohio. The Associated Press reports they plan to file their request today or tomorrow.

"The Ohio presidential election was marred by numerous press and independent reports of mis-marked and discarded ballots, problems with electronic voting machines and the targeted disenfranchisement of African-American voters," said Blair Bobier, Cobb's media director.

Kerry's campaign has also gotten into the fray, filing a legal brief in Delaware County to make sure any recount includes that Bush-heavy area.

Today, Kerry campaign attorney Daniel J. Hoffheimer issued a statement praising the DNC's invovlement in Ohio.

"The Kerry-Edwards Campaign is very pleased that the Democratic
National Committee is undertaking a thorough investigation in Ohio of
issues arising from the administration of this year's presidential
election," he said. "While the election of the Bush-Cheney ticket by the Electoral
College is all but certain, and while neither the pending Ohio recount
nor this investigation is designed to challenge the popular vote in
Ohio, there have been many problems before, on, and since Election Day
that warrant a close look to assure that every citizen's lawful vote is
fully protected at all stages of the electoral process. "

The Electoral College takes its vote on Dec. 13, and it is unlikely a statewide recount would be completed before then.