Vermont Progressive Primary Winner Quits, Loser Seeks Recount

The winner of last week's Progressive primary for governor of Vermont says she won't be a candidate in the general election, while the loser in the primary is calling for a recount.

The official count released Tuesday by the secretary of state's office shows Martha Abbott with 371 votes, to 354 write-in votes for Annette Smith. Abbott says she wants the party's support to go toward the re-election of Democratic incumbent Governor Peter Shumlin.

But Smith says there appears to have been voting irregularities in several towns, and says she'll ask Secretary of State Jim Condos to call for a recount.

Smith didn't actively campaign for the nomination, but now says she thinks problems with vote counting need to be fixed.

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