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Florida shouldn’t recount presidential votes, JU political scientist Stephen Baker tells First Coast News

Jacksonville University Political Science Professor Stephen Baker

Because President Barack Obama has won re-election regardless of Florida’s outcome, Republican Mitt Romney should not request a recount of Florida’s votes, Jacksonville University political science professor Dr. Stephen Baker told First Coast News (WTLV NBC-12 and WJXX ABC-25).

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said taxpayers statewide likely would have to pay at least $1 million in personnel costs to recount the votes.

“It would probably be very divisive for the nation to go through another antagonist recount,” Baker told First Coast News on Wednesday, Nov. 7. “If it wouldn’t make any difference in terms of the electoral college, the Romney campaign would be rather foolish to do that.”

Romney already has conceded the Nov. 6 presidential election to Obama.

Nearly 8.4 million Florida voters cast ballots in the 2012 general election. With some counties still counting ballots, Obama leads Romney by about 45,000 votes — just over a half-percent of the vote. If the final tally falls within a half percent, state law requires the votes to be recounted unless Romney declines a recount.

Here is the First Coast News article and video.