Date:30/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/30/stories/2004123002171402.htm

International

Recount cuts Bush's total

CINCINNATI: A recount of the presidential election votes in Ohio on Tuesday showed that the U.S. President, George W. Bush, won the election here by about 300 fewer votes than initially recorded. The recount of Ohio's 88 counties showed that Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, gained 734 more votes, with Mr. Bush picking up 449 more after election officials allowed more than 1,100 previously disqualified ballots to be counted in the second tally. Ohio proved the key state for Mr. Bush, who needed the state's 20 electoral votes to win the election. Mr. Kerry supported the recount.

- New York Times News Service