2 <p> <div class="column span-4 small quiet"><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdnassets/assets/9158/dillard_col4.jpg" alt="" style="width: 150px;" /><br />Kirk Dillard</div> State Sen. Kirk Dillard reserved the right to call for a recount today, declining to concede in a primary race defined by 406 votes.</p> <p>His Republican colleague, State Sen. Bill Brady, leads the GOP's gubernatorial race. But with thousands of absentee and provisional ballots still outstanding, there is no official winner.</p> <p>And there won't be until March 5. That's when state officials certify the results and proclaim the Republican nominee.</p> <p>But in a press conference this afternoon, Dillard did not rule out that he would ask for a recount if the vote remains tight.</p> <p>"In a race this close," Dillard said, holding his index finger and thumb together, "it is important that every vote count."</p> <p>He described his relationship with Brady as "cordial," adding that "the Republican Party is united" against Democratic nominee Gov. Pat Quinn.</p> <p>Wes Bleed, Dillard's campaign spokesman, emphasized that his candidate is not trying to prolong the primary season.</p> <p>"There's nothing extended about what we're saying here today," Bleed said, reminding reporters that March 5 is the actual certification date. "We're counting the ballots that have not been counted."</p> <p>Brady, holding an impromptu press conference in response to Dillard's, suggested that his opponent is in denial.</p> <p>"Mr. Dillard is going through a difficult time," Brady said. "He hasn't prevailed in this election."</p> <p>Brady said that while he respects Dillard's decision to wait for official results, that move has also damaged his ability to campaign as the Republican nominee.</p> <p>"It delays our ability, without question, to move 100 percent forward."</p> 2010-02-05T15:43:00-06:00 2 31089 1 35 1 DillardholdsoutasBradytriestomoveforward 1 It looks like Republican gubernatorial candidates Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady are in a waiting game until at least March. 2 265