(AP) - Republican challenger David Rouzer has requested a recount in the race for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District seat.
    
Rouzer, a state senator from Johnson County, trails incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre by 655 votes, a margin of 0.2 percent. That's within the 0.5 percent margin to trigger a recount under state law, if requested by a candidate.
    
In a statement, Rouzer cited the potential for human error and said he wants to ensure every vote cast is properly and accurately counted.
    
A member of his party's conservative Blue Dog caucus, the 56-year-old McIntyre is seeking a ninth term. National Republican leaders saw the district as a prime opportunity to expand their majority in the U.S. House after redistricting, resulting in one of the most expensive races in the country.