ANTA FE - Al Gore was confirmed as the certified winner of the US presidential race in New Mexico by 368 votes yesterday after a last-minute recount, state election officials said.
The state canvassing board had declared Gore the winner Tuesday by a narrow margin of 483 votes. But in an unusual move, the board said the certification would not take effect until after a recount demanded by Republicans in one small rural county.
New Mexico's five electoral votes will not decide the race for the White House, which hinges on Florida's contested 25 electoral votes.
The recount in Roosevelt County trimmed Gore's lead over Republican George W. Bush by 115 votes, to 368 out of nearly 600,000 cast statewide, state elections director Denise Lamb said.
A judge notified the state canvassing board of the results yesterday, and the fact that Gore remained in the lead meant the official certification could take effect at 5 p.m. (7:30 p.m. EST), Lamb said.
''The canvassing board did certify the results on Tuesday, and they did make it contingent [on the recount] until 5 p.m. today.'' Lamb said.
Candidates have six business days to file for a statewide recount.
The canvassing board's declaration of Gore's victory put a complicated end to a seesaw presidential race in New Mexico.
The unusual step of deferring certification came after the state Republican Party complained about undervoting, ballots that showed no vote for a presidential candidate, in Roosevelt County.
