ALBUQUERQUE — The state Democratic Party completed its canvass of regular and absentee ballots in New Mexico’s presidential caucuses Tuesday, one week after the votes were cast.
As volunteers continued to qualify provisional ballots, Gov. Bill Richardson said it was apparent party officials weren’t prepared for high turnout and suggested it may be time to return to a state-run primary.
“I think a debate should take place among New Mexicans and Democrats on whether we should continue with a caucus or with a full primary,” Richardson said.
With the figures updated but still without more than 17,000 provisionals, Hillary Clinton led by 1,074 votes. Before the canvass, her lead was 1,123 — a change of “less than seven-tenths of 1 percent,” state Democratic Party chairman Brian Colon said.
Colon couldn’t offer an estimate for when the tabulation of provisional ballots would be completed but said he was confident the party will beat a Friday deadline for certifying caucus results.
