The additional 57-vote margin from Fairfax was expected to give Herring a statewide lead of 163 votes out of more than 2.2 million cast – barring any last-minute changes from other localities, which had until 11:59 pm Tuesday to submit their numbers to the state election board.

A recount appears all but certain after the statewide results are certified Nov. 25, and the Obenshain campaign made clear that it considers the race far from over. “We owe it to the people of Virginia to make sure we get it right, and that every legitimate vote is counted and subject to uniform rules,” Obenshain (Harrisonburg) said in a statement.

Herring, by contrast, treated his victory as assured in a campaign statement.

Richard Cohen has the Richard Cohen–iest non-apology ever in response to his grotesque piece yesterday about “conventional” Americans “gagging” at interracial marriage. “I don’t understand it,” the Washington Post columnist told The Washington Post in what has to be the interview coup on the year. “What I was doing was expressing not my own views but those of extreme right-wing Republican tea party people. I don’t have a problem with interracial marriage or same-sex marriage. In fact, I exult in them . . . This is just below the belt. It’s a purposeful misreading of what I wrote.” Ew! Richard Cohen “exults” in your marriages, interracial couples and gay couples. Note that Richard Cohen has a history of “exulting” where he shouldn’t.