With 18 precincts yet to report results for the GOP Senate primary the race was so close that it was shaping up to be determined at a later date -- pending the canvass of the vote.

Tallies showed Christopher Reed with 34.9 percent of the vote and George Eichhorn with 34.7 percent. Steve Rathje was in third with more than 30 percent. If a candidate fails to secure 35 percent of the vote, the outcome will be determined at the June 14 state GOP convention.

"The race is so close that no clear winner will be determined tonight," Eichhorn said. "Both campaigns will want to see the results of the official canvass next week but one thing we know for sure is that Republicans will be unified against Harkin."

Reed's campaign watched closely as the returns from the final 18 precincts reported. Campaign insiders were hopeful those returns would be enough to put Reed over the 35 percent margin. According to media outlets, Reed appeared to pull that off by garnering 35.3 percent of the vote with every precinct but one reporting. That percentage would be enough to prevent the race from going to convention if it holds up through the official canvass.

Labels: 2008_primary