HARRISBURG -- It looks like a recount may be needed to determine the winner of the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on Tuesday.

As of today, state Rep. Scott Conklin of Centre County led former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel by a tiny margin -- less than one half of 1 percent, which is the threshold for doing an automatic recount.

With almost all the votes tallied, Mr. Conklin led Mr. Saidel by only 35.3 percent to 34.9 percent, with the rest going a third candidate, former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Ribner-Smith.

The 67 counties will verify the results and send them, by Tuesday, to the state Department of State, which will then have two days to decide if a recount is needed. A recount would have to be finished by June 8.

If the margin of victory for Mr. Conklin is more than one-half of 1 percent, Mr. Saidel, who was the Democratic-endorsed candidate, would have the option of paying for a recount.