ROSEVILLE - Though there's been neither a concession from his opponent or an official certification from elections officials, Republican Tom McClintock again declared victory Monday in the 4th Congressional District race.

Meanwhile, the campaign for opponent Charlie Brown said they're still studying their options. McClintock's camp has claimed the vote margin is too large for Brown to make up with what's left, and McClintock informally claimed victory over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

With all but a few provisional ballots counted in El Dorado County, McClintock had a 1,676-vote lead over Brown, and said at an event at his campaign headquarters that he was prepared to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. John Doolittle (R-Roseville).

"The liberal wave that swept over American lapped at the edges of this district, but we held firm," said McClintock to cheers from a few dozen supporters. "The voters here stood up for individual freedoms and limited government, and it will be my distinct pleasure to carry those values to the 111th Congress."

Before McClintock's press conference, Democrat Brown's campaign issued a statement saying there were still thousands of undervotes - ballots where no vote for a 4th District candidate could be determined - and other disqualified ballots that should be counted.

"We remain committed to ensuring a fair and accurate count where every voice is heard, and will be evaluating the results over the next 24 to 48 hours to determine if any additional action is warranted on the part of our campaign," Brown said in the statement.

Reached by phone, Brown campaign manager Todd Stenhouse referred queries to what was said in the statement. McClintock said he had not spoken to Brown or his campaign.

The vote won't be certified by the California Secretary of State until Dec. 16, and Brown could legally ask for a recount.

McClintock noted, though, that the margin of victory in the 4th race was larger than that in state Assembly District 10 or state Senate District 19, where both victors were sworn into office earlier Tuesday.

"The count is over, the election is over," McClintock said. "I know it hurts like the dickens to lose a close race."

Though McClintock still has active campaign accounts to run for lieutenant governor and the state Board of Equalization in 2010, he reiterated Monday that he had no plans to run for any future office other than re-election to the 4th Congressional District.

In Congress, he said, he'll espouse the same conservative/libertarian values he was known for as a state legislator and candidate for statewide office.

"The government cannot spend money to stimulate the economy that it first hasn't taken out of the economy," he said. "The best way to stimulate the economy is to get the government off the people's back."

McClintock, who was termed out this year of a Southern California state senate seat, said his wife has begun looking for houses in Roseville and Rocklin in anticipation of his moving to the district.

ELSEWHERE on PolitickerCA.com:

• SPECIAL HOLIDAY REPORT: Vote recount could be next in McClintock/Brown race
• McClintock to speak Monday, informally claims CA-04 win