Remember the mess in 2000? How about a tie?

[betterdeadthanred]

Page 1A

Remember the mess in 2000? How about a tie?
Electoral deadlock possible, and parties getting lawyers ready
By Susan Page
USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Even as President Bush accepted the Republican nomination Thursday and the final chapter of the campaign began, strategists in both camps were preparing for the possibility of an unprecedented situation when it ends.

An Electoral College tie.

Shifts in electoral votes and the realities of an evenly divided nation mean there is a credible case that the final tally in Bush vs. Kerry could be 269-269 — an outcome that would throw the election to the House of Representatives.

It's also easy to calculate how Bush could lose the popular vote but win the Electoral College, as he did in 2000. Or the reverse: how John Kerry could lose the popular vote but win the Electoral College.

The reaction among Americans — many of whom have forgotten the arcane details of the Electoral College that they once learned in civics class — could make the firestorm after the last election seem like a backyard barbecue.

“One of the reasons that there's so much hatred in American politics right now is the dispute over the 2000 election,” says Paul Sracic, a political scientist at Youngstown State University in Ohio, one of the battleground states.

rest of the article here:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20040903/1a_cover02.art.htm

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wildeyed]

2. Well the one about how Kerry could win the popular vote

tie the electoral college and then have Bush appointed prez by the house and senate was the worst case of all. I think I would die of rage if that happened.

[betterdeadthanred]

4. You, me and alot of others would be enraged

Except no dying. The author is correct, it would make 2000 look like a back yard barbeque. People just think they saw protests this past week. What would happen if something like this really comes to pass? It's almost too scary to comtemplate.

[lapfog_1]

3. There are even more bizarre scenarios

Electoral college tie. Dems win control of the Senate.
House votes to "re-elect" President Bush, Senate elects
Vice President Edwards.

Then there is the issue of Nebraska and Maine. These two states
select two electors based on popular vote, the rest of electors
are by congressional district... so they are not winner take all
states (though this year that is likely mute). OTOH, Colorado
has a ballot measure to join them and I haven't seen the
date that this new law, if passed, would take effect. And that
state would likely split it's electoral vote.

I don't want to visit any of this, nor the Supreme Court again.
I want a clear mandate for Kerry/Edwards.

[betterdeadthanred]

5. A clear mandate would be great

As a friend of mine said though, this is the Year of the Monkey, if you know your Chinese Horoscopes, with the Monkey you have to expect the unexpected.

[serryjw]

6. CO's will take effect THIS election

IF passed!

[lapfog_1]

7. What are the chances that this measure will pass? Any polls on it?

[serryjw]

8. Not that I have seened

but it made its 57,000 VERY easily.....so I think it will

[Hippo_Tron]

9. A tie = President Tom DeLay

That's something we all need to think about and be VERY VERY afraid of.

[serryjw]

10. That's NOT true!

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Well, hopefully it's not. But anything can happen...