CLinton and Obama still wait to see who won New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) It could be a couple of days before Democrats in New Mexico have an idea when they'll be finished counting more than 17,000 provisional ballots from Tuesday's presidential caucuses.

That means Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will simply have to wait to find out who won a tightly contested race.

With all votes counted yesterday except the provisionals, Clinton holds a lead of slightly more than 1,100 votes.

The process of verifying the thousands of provisional ballots could begin today. Such ballots were given to voters who showed up at the wrong voting site, whose names were not on registered voter lists, or those who requested an absentee ballot but signed an affidavit saying they did not return it.

Democratic Governor Bill Richardson says he's "deeply disturbed" by problems and long lines at polling places and by how the caucus was managed.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 02-08-08 0317CST | save this article / add to your favorites list