Deal 'em and weep in New Mexico

SANTA FE - A hand of poker may settle the contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore in their battle for votes in New Mexico.

The US presidential race in the state is tight: Vice-President Gore holds a 375-vote lead over his Republican rival. If the final result yields a tie, New Mexico law requires that the winner "shall be ... decided by lot."

State elections director Denise Lamb said the law left it to the parties to decide what game or method of drawing lots they used.

"Whether they want to draw straws, play a hand of five-card stud or draw a high card, that is totally up to the participants,"

In practice, the usual method in this rare event has been to play poker.

"Not even a whole game of poker, but just one hand, and that takes dumb luck," said state Republican Party chairman John Dendahl.

This happened last December when Republican Jim Blanq and Democrat Lena Milligan tied in a local race to become a judge. They played a hand of poker, and Blanq won.

- REUTERS

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