Move-On.org: The results are in, Sharpton announces victory
Metro - 06/27/03

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Al Sharpton declared himself the winner of Move-on.org’s hard-fought presidential primary -- and by extension, the Move-on.org Democratic endorsement -- and said Friday morning that he will begin immediately "preparing to serve" as the Democrat’s great hope for the 2004 Presidential race.

Saying that he was "honored and humbled" by his win in the Move-On.org Primary, Sharpton called upon Democrat Howard Dean to reconsider his decision to contest the outcome.

"The election was close, but today after a count, a recount and yet another manual recount, I am honored and humbled to have slapped your donkey in the Move-on Primary, which gives me the needed legitimacy to dictate our mandate for the Democratic party," Sharpton said from his New York City taxicab/campaign headquarters.

"I will therefore undertake the responsibility of preparing to serve as the Democrat’s next Presidential candidate."

He added that the Move-on battle had been "a healthy contest for American democracy. And now that the votes are counted, it is time for the votes to count."

Sharpton’s address came just two hours after Move-On President said Wes Boyd announced that the final tally showed Sharpton won with 271votes compared with 266 for Howard Dean -- a margin of just 5 votes.

Dean’s aides said he would address the nation at tomorrow to explain why he would not concede. Speaking on Dean’s behalf Sunday evening, before Sharpton ’s address, Democratic also-ran Dennis Kucinich called the vote tally "incomplete and inaccurate" and said that Dean has no choice but to contest it.

"We have an opportunity here and we have a responsibility to ensure that this election lifts up our democracy and respects every voter and every vote, no matter what the outcome," Dean said. "And that is precisely what I will seek to do in the days ahead."

UPDATE: Rev. Sharpton has agreed to withdraw his claim to victory and challenged Howard Dean to a "best of three" competition. So far, Gov. Dean has refused to concede even the first one. Rev. Sharpton says his "lawyers are looking into the matter."