REP. Dennis Kucinich was right to request -- and pay for -- a recount of the ballots in the Democratic presidential primary.

We say that not because we think there is strong evidence of voter fraud. Secretary of State Bill Gardner was probably correct when he said a recount would reveal a fair election.

Kucinich's recount, however, will answer some questions and put to rest some of the conspiracy theories being circulated. OK, it won't end all the conspiracy theories. Some people are impervious to facts. But it will show whether the "irregularities" Kucinich and others think they have found are real.

Kucinich also deserves credit for paying for the recount with campaign funds. Some candidates would have whined. But he chose to pay the price to have his questions answered instead of trying to pass the bill to New Hampshire's taxpayers. The same goes for Republican candidate Albert Howard, who paid for a recount of the Republican ballots.

Whatever the recount's results, Gardner has opened the process to observers so there can be no question about the integrity of the count. Doubters on both sides should let this settle the issue. If they question Gardner's integrity, then we'll know for sure not to trust anything else they have to say.