Election '82: I thought I'd Seen Everything

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Old suspicions had been aroused that the mysteriously absent votes would turn up as Democratic ones. But when the final precincts were tabulated on Friday, they provided a winning edge to a greatly relieved Thompson. In an emotional speech, Thompson vowed that he would not let the victory be taken away. Said he: "We beat 'em and we beat 'em good." Stevenson declared that victory was his, but would not say whether he would ask for a recount if the vote is certified later this month. In the past, such recounts, which are paid for by the requesting candidate, resulted in shifts of 5,000 to 7,000 votes, a potentially significant amount this year. The stubbornly optimistic Stevenson then retreated to his farm with campaign aides to discuss a "transition" team. —By Richard Stengel. Reported by Christopher Ogden/Chicago