Republican challenger David Rouzer has requested a recount in the race for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District seat.
Rouzer, a state senator from Johnson County, trails incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre by 655 votes, a margin of 0.2 percent. That's within the 0.5 percent margin to trigger a recount under state law, if requested by a candidate.
In a statement, Rouzer cited the potential for human error and said he wants to ensure every vote cast is properly and accurately counted.
Because of redistricting, the 7th district now includes parts of Lenoir and Duplin counties.
A member of his party's conservative Blue Dog caucus, the 56-year-old McIntyre is seeking a ninth term. National Republican leaders saw the district as a prime opportunity to expand their majority in the U.S. House after redistricting, resulting in one of the most expensive races in the country.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
