Obama's Margin of Victory: How Much Does He Need For A Mandate Like Bush Had in 2004?

[RadiationTherapy]

It might be fun to have that ready for the day after. Obama's Mandate. hahahahahha

[former9thward]

1. The margin of victory will mean little.

He needs the House and filibuster proof Senate (Do not depend on Reid changing the rule no matter what he says).

[Coyotl]

8. This will have some great coattailing

Plus, there are very good candidates this year. Look at heidi in ND, for example, kicking Berg big time in a very red state.

[GoCubsGo]

14. Yep. He had a mandate in 2008.

The republicans refused to recognize it. I don't see that changing, unless the Democrats win both houses of Congress and change the rules to prevent the kind of obstruction we saw over the past four years.

[craigmatic]

2. 290 something because bush had like 286. Really I'd prefer 300+ that would be a mandate.

[budkin]

3. If it's like Bush's "mandate" it will not be one

[Renew Deal]

4. 1 vote

[Scuba]

6. You beat me to it.

[doc03]

5. If he got 538 EV and 90% of the popular vote

the Republicans wouldn't admit it was a mandate.

[PoliticAverse]

7. 2004 Popular vote: Bush - 50.7%, Kerry - 48.3%. Bush had no mandate. n/t

[RadiationTherapy]

12. Well, I may choose to cite a "Bush mandate" to my conservative friends just out of spite.

hahahaha

[OmahaBlueDog]

9. Here's how it works: even you can win by 1 EV -- govern like you won by a landslide

That's the lesson we should have all learned from George W. Bush.

[RadiationTherapy]

11. While I am not sure I agree with that actual practice, I may have some fun with the "rhetoric of

mandate" if we manage even the slimmest of victories. hahaha

[RadiationTherapy]

10. Sorry, didn't mean to imply it would be a "real mandate"

only a "Bush mandate", which of course is not one.

[outsideworld]

13. I need to ask

What is a mandate and what power does it give the incumbant

[RadiationTherapy]

16. A political mandate is a election victory of such a margin that the elected feels empowered

to enact their agenda due to a perception of wide support among their constituency. It is not a formal term in regard to any particular power.

[outsideworld]

17. Ok

But that doesnt really change much if we dont have the house and a fill buster proof senate right ?

[upi402]

15. Bushco cheated the vote & stole the election.

So... man date that Republicans!

[Jack Rabbit]

18. Bush did not have a madate in 2004

The election was close by any standard and Bush's victory was, to say the very least, extremely suspect.