Rep. Rangel could face recount in Democratic primary

/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

(CBS News/AP) Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., could face a potential recount in his Democratic primary, after an Associated Press report shows him up only 2.8 percent with 32 of the districts 506 precincts and absentee ballots still to be counted.

Rangel's opponent, New York state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, would need to climb within half a percentage point in order to force a manual recount. City Board of Elections spokeswoman Valerie Vazquez told CBS New York the absentee ballots will start being counted on July 5.

With 93 percent of the precincts reporting, the AP's unofficial results currently sit at Rangel with 16,898 votes and Espaillat with 15,823 votes, a difference of only 1,075 votes.

Rangel faced one of the toughest primary challenges of his career this year following an ethics scandal that caused him to step aside from his position as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Rangel is the third most senior member of the House, having served in Congress since 1971.

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The day in politics: June 28

[wb006]

New York City,the new Louisiana. Missing precincts, uncounted ballots, the cats eat my homework. Kingfish would be proud...

[wolfmagic2012]

I try real hard, yet it is difficult to view those similar to you as fellow Americans when your attitude is so vehemently disparaging to individuals who disagree with your point of view. Extremists like yourself need to move a little to the center, as do your "opponents", to work together to achieve true accomplishments on behalf of the American people.

[VotePovertyVoteObama]

The only thing I can remember about this Liberal idiot is the photo of him on a beach in a third world country during the ethics investigation of him looking like a beached whale. He really looked bloated. Look at his voters, he'll get back in because the uneducated Liberals in his district are clueless Welfare recipients.

[wolfmagic2012]

by wolfmagic2012 June 28, 2012 2:58 PM EDT
I try real hard, yet it is difficult to view those similar to you as fellow Americans when your attitude is so vehemently disparaging to individuals who disagree with your point of view. Extremists like yourself need to move a little to the center, as do your "opponents", to work together to achieve true accomplishments on behalf of the American people.