UPDATE - Trump campaign to request recount in Wisconsin

ADDS DETAILS ON POTENTIAL REQUEST TIMELINE IN WISCONSIN, LAWSUIT IN MICHIGAN

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump's campaign said Wednesday it will request a recount in the state of Wisconsin, citing "reports of irregularities" in several counties, while taking a legal challenge in Michigan.

According to preliminary tabulations, Democratic nominee Joe Biden has taken a 20,000-vote lead against Trump in Wisconsin. In all, Biden has garnered 1,630,389 votes, or 49.4%. Trump received 1,609,879 votes, or 48.8%.

"Despite ridiculous public polling used as a voter suppression tactic, Wisconsin has been a razor thin race as we always knew that it would be," said Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien in a statement.

"There have been reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results. The President is well within the threshold to request a recount and we will immediately do so," he added without elaborating on the alleged "irregularities."

While the campaign maintains it will seek a recount in earnest, it may have to wait weeks until it can do so. County clerks have until Nov. 17 to deliver their vote counts, and the chair of Michigan's Elections Commission has until Dec. 1 to certify the results.

Only after the results are verified by state officials can a recount be requested, and then only if the margin of victory falls within 1%.

In neighboring Michigan, where Biden also leads the president by less than 1%, the Trump campaign has taken legal action, claiming it "has not been provided with meaningful access to numerous counting locations to observe the opening of ballots and the counting process, as guaranteed by Michigan law."

It filed suit to halt the counting "until meaningful access has been granted."

"We also demand to review those ballots which were opened and counted while we did not have meaningful access," Stepien said in a statement.

While Trump has prematurely claimed victory he remains behind Biden in the race to secure at least 270 Electoral College votes. The race remains competitive, however, with Biden leading 238-213, according to The Associated Press.

Wisconsin has 10 electoral votes.

*Michael Hernandez contributed to this report