Allen West Campaign: 'This Race is Far From Decided'

The campaign for U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, isnt ready to concede and has called for a hand recount in St. Lucie County.

This race is far from decided and there is no rush to declare an outcome, Wests campaign manager Tim Edson stated in a release.

West appears to have been defeated by Democrat Patrick Murphy, 160,328 (50.4 percent) to 157,872 (49.6 percent).

The gap is beyond the .5 percent margin that triggers an automatic recount.

In St. Lucie County, where elections officialsleft a machine containing voting results at a precinct, Murphy topped West 65,896 to 52,625 following a "recount" by the Democratic elections supervisor, according to the West campaign statement.

The St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections office clearly ignored proper rules and procedures, and the scene at the supervisors office last night could only be described as complete chaos, the campaign stated. Given the hostility and demonstrated incompetence of the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, we believe it is critical that a full hand recount of the ballots take place in St. Lucie County. We will continue to fight to ensure every vote is counted properly and fairly, and accordingly we will pursue all legal means necessary.

In the bitter and expensive contest, West won Republican-leaning Martin County 43,290 to 32,486, and edged Murphy in Northern Palm Beach County 61,957 to 61,946.

The candidates raised more than $20 million, with the conservative firebrand West hauling in $17 million. Both drew heavy outside funding, with Murphys father putting up $250,000 for one outside attack groups ad.