'Power sharing' deal in the offing?

A power-sharing deal may be being worked out in Afghanistan that would avoid a run-off election, sources tell POLITICO. 

A partial vote recount is apparently showing that incumbent Hamid Karzai has slightly less than 50% of the vote, although not as low as 47% as was reported yesterday.

Western countries may not have an appetite for a runoff election, a source who insisted on anonymity said. "I think they all think it'll end up with the same result and will delay everything."

Deputy US Ambassador Frank Ricciardone was seen leaving the leading opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah's house last night.

Former US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad was also seen in town -- "everyone insists in his personal capacity" -- talking to both Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Gani, a presidential candidate who came in fourth with one percent of the vote who received campaign strategy advice from James Carville.

I can guarantee the Americans, whatever they say, are averse to the idea of doing a runoff, a Kabul based source says. "The security for the last voting was bad enough. They told me they are worried about doing it all again. It would be a logistical nightmare."

The competition may be for how many ministerships leading candidates can demand based on the recount results. More clarity on the situation should be coming later today or tomorrow."