Reply #4: Yes and no.

[MrUnderhill]

There isn't possibly enough time to recount anything by hand and "change the outcome" in time for electors to be sent to congress.

There are also not enough remaining votes (or "potential votes") to make up the difference (even IF the spoiled ballots were ALL "votes").

But if there WERE actually fraud in the election, a hand recount of ballots would show it. And with a margin of victory THAT high, the "error" would have to be spread all across the state. You couldn't do this in one or two counties, or the disparity would be way too high. So IF there was fraud... you'll see 25,30,40 counties reporting that the machines miscounted the ballots.

IF that actually happened, you would either see an impeachment... or (more likely) a lockstep defense by the Republicans than would ensure Bush remained in office... but impotent - and there would be a massive electoral landslide in '06 and '08.