WASHINGTON — (CNN) The Iowa Democratic caucuses were so messy that the votes need to be recounted immediately, Iowa’s largest newspaper declared on Thursday.
“What happened Monday night at the Democratic caucuses was a debacle, period,” the Des Moines Register’s editorial board wrote.
On Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton edged out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 49.8% to 49.6%, according to the tallies announced by the Iowa Democratic Party.
Despite the incredibly close race, the party said it will not recount the results.
“The refusal to undergo scrutiny or allow for an appeal reeks of autocracy,” the paper’s editorial board wrote.
“Too many” of the newspaper’s reporters “saw opportunities for error amid Monday night’s chaos,” it said.
The decision by Iowa Democratic Party officials to stick to the initial tally “only confirm the suspicions” of Sanders’ supporters, the paper said.
Sanders, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist is running as an anti-establishment candidate. To his supporters, the Iowa Democratic Party’s refusal to recount the votes seems like an attempt by the so-called establishment to crush his campaign.
“The Iowa Democratic Party must act quickly to assure the accuracy of the caucus results, beyond a shadow of a doubt,” the board wrote.
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