Here is a question for you. In VA, if an election is decided by ½% or less, the state will pay for a recount if requested by the potential losing candidate. That number would be roughly 11,000 votes in this election. With the difference being 16,727 as of the latest tally, it seems unlikely that Gillespie could catch Warner. However, it is not far fetched to think he can close to within the 11,000 or so to qualify for a state funded recount. If the count does end up with a difference should the potential loser (probably Gillespie) request a state funded recount?
Correction, the criteria for a recount at state cost is slightly different from what I suggested above (although looking back my previous statement was ambiguous). It is not ½% of the total votes cast in the election for that office, it is ½% of the votes cast for the candidate involved in the recount. There are actually three criteria where the recount is state funded...
>> The candidate challenging the results is declared the winner after the recount.
>> The petitioners in a recount of a referendum win the recount.
>> The final margin between the candidate challenging and the candidate winning the recount is not more than 1/2 of 1% of the total votes cast for the two candidates prior to the recount.
Details can be seen at
http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/politics/elections/2013/11/06/how-a-recount-works-in-virginia/14835662/