Ritchie says he received death threats during 2008 recount

Minnesota's closely watched gubernatorial election is heading for a recount, and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said he expects it to draw sharp partisan criticism, if not more.

He told MPR's Kerri Miller this morning that he was threatened personally during the 2008 Senate recount.

"In the last recount, hyper partisan attacks resulted in death threats," Ritchie said."

Ritchie said the threats were made specifically to him and not his staff, and that he turned those threats over to Capitol security and the Secret Service.

Elections officials are now saying DFLer Mark Dayton's lead over Republican Tom Emmer has fallen to 8,774 votes, as final tallies are confirmed in elections offices around the state.

A difference of less than about 10,500 would trigger an automatic recount under state law, the third such statewide recount in just over two years.

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