Supporters of Republican former Congressman Max Burns, who tails by more than 900 votes in unofficial tallies, insist the number doesn't show the true picture of the contest for the Georgia Congressional District 12 seat. A spokesman for the frontrunning incumbent, U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., says Mr. Burns should face reality.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Barrow had 70,986 votes, or 50.3 percent, to 70,023, or 49.7 percent, in unofficial totals, according to the Georgia Secretary of State's Office. All that remains to be counted are some provisional ballots and absentee ballots from overseas. Georgia law allows those overseas voters an extra three days after Election Day to get ballots in, which, because of Friday's holiday, would push the deadline to Monday, said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections.

Richmond County had received 15 overseas ballots and has nine provisional votes it accepted that will need to be counted Monday before the counties certify their results. Those certifications will go to the Secretary of State's office Tuesday, and it is expected to certify the results Wednesday. Because the difference is less than 1 percent, the loser would have a right to ask for a recall within two days. Mrs. Bailey said it would take several hours, if not a day, to do a recount in Richmond County even though the district includes only 42 of the 71 precincts, Mrs. Bailey said.

Even before a recount the numbers may change, contends the Burns camp, which is re-canvassing the district.

"We've seen that already, that some of the figures that the counties are reporting are in fact not accurate," said Mr. Burns' spokesman John Stone.

And a request for a recount may come from the other side if those figures change enough, Mr. Stone said.

"With it being this close, the slightest little thing could make the difference," he said.

But Mr. Barrow contends there are not enough votes in question to change the outcome and Mr. Burns should accept that, said spokesman Harper Lawson.

"Max Burns needs to stop trying to delay the inevitable," he said.

Morris New Service contributed to this report.