SANTA FE, N.M., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Republicans are charging Gov. Bill Richardson is still trying to find more votes for Democratic Sen. John Kerry in New Mexico.
Greg Graves, executive director of the New Mexico Republican Party, said Richardson is conspiring to steal electoral votes from President Bush, who won the state's five votes, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported Friday.
"I believe this is a conspiracy," Graves said.
Graves believes Richardson, Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and other Democrats are attempting to create confusion about Bush's win in New Mexico.
Gilbert Gallegos, a Richardson spokesman, called the allegations "ridiculous." He said the governor wants the process of counting the votes to be open.
Graves said he was concerned the Democratic county clerk in Las Cruces initially refused to allow observers to watch her staff verify provisional ballots. These voters' qualifications must be verified before the votes are counted.
Bush had nearly a 5,000-vote lead over Kerry in the unofficial New Mexico returns being reported Friday morning on the secretary of state's Web site.
