Handel concedes gubernatorial election

Karen Handel sent out a statement to supporters moments ago conceding the Republican gubernatorial nomination to Nathan Deal.

"We certainly have the option of requesting the automatic statewide recount," she wrote. "But we are not going to do that."

The former secretary of state said she would support Deal in the November general election against Democratic nominee Roy Barnes.

"The best thing for our party is to rally around Congressman Deal as our nominee in the fight against Roy Barnes," she stated. "We must marshal all of our resources to defeat him."

In the statement, she said she had spoken with Deal to congratulate him and contacted supporters to ask they put their energy behind Deal.

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