Our Next President ???

[Andu Indorin]

An interview on the radio today raised an intriguing possible outcome in the U.S. presidential election: a tie in the electoral college. And reviewing the New York Times "Presidential Race" map of today, the mathematics might work out.

Assuming that Bush and Kerry take all states that are currently "leaning" in their respective directions, Bushes total stands at 227, and Kerry's total stands at 225. IF, of the remaining six swing states, Florida, Wisconsin, and New Mexico go Bush; and Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa go Kerry; then the results would be 269 apiece for Bush and Kerry.

What then?

 

[Colonel]

The House decides the next president in a vote

 

[Taliesin]

And the Senate determines the Vice President.
This would mean a Kerry-Cheney office. Weird.

 

[Capulet]

The House would pick Bush.

The Senate would pick Edwards.

Bush-Edwards, not Kerry-Cheney

 

[newfangle]

It could be a sitcom.

 

[Taliesin]

Ah. I had them reversed. I thought the House was Democratic.

 

[kronic]

I thought, both the House and the Senate are Republican these days?

 

[Capulet]

Senate is pretty much tied because there is an indpendent who almost always votes with the Dems.

House is Republican though.

 

[LLXerxes]

Ah. I had them reversed. I thought the House was Democratic.

Nope. It's Republican for a while...

Yup. The House would chose the president while the senate choses VP

 

[Tomoyo]

Sweet. I'm rootin' for this to happen.

 

[LLXerxes]

Sweet. I'm rootin' for this to happen.

why? you want something weird to happen? you want there to be a demo-republican couple for the first time? your a republican? because your weird?
why why why?

 

[AVN]

why? you want something weird to happen? you want there to be a demo-republican couple for the first time? your a republican? because your weird?
why why why?

IIRC there have been a few of these mixed couples in the 19th century.
But maybe SN can help on this.

 

[Tomoyo]

why? you want something weird to happen? you want there to be a demo-republican couple for the first time? your a republican? because your weird?
why why why?

A demo-republic combo would be the most effectve because nothing would get done. Once on side contols much power, major changes to that side would occur.

 

[Chairman Meow]

IIRC there have been a few of these mixed couples in the 19th century.
But maybe SN can help on this.

There were several early in U.S. history... John Adams was a Federalist, while Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat, for one example. I'm pretty sure there were others, but that's the only one that comes to mind.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Most of people say that the next President will be Sarkozy. But I personnally think it will be the socialist candidate (whoever it is).

 

[Tomoyo]

There were several early in U.S. history... John Adams was a Federalist, while Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat, for one example. I'm pretty sure there were others, but that's the only one that comes to mind.

I don't think Democrats existed...

 

[North King]

I don't think Democrats existed...

Jefferson was Democratic-Republican, a party which evolved into teh Democrats.

 

[Yom]

There were several early in U.S. history... John Adams was a Federalist, while Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat, for one example. I'm pretty sure there were others, but that's the only one that comes to mind.

That's actually the only situation. I believe the constitution was amended after that so that both the President and Vice President are elected together.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Jefferson was Democratic-Republican, a party which evolved into teh Democrats.

Yes, I was just too lazy to type out Democratic-Republican, so I shortened it to Democratic.

edit @Yom: Yes, that was the only case where the pres and vice pres. were from different parties before the 12th Amendment. There were one or two cases after it from candidates nominating running mates from the opposite party, but those don't exactly apply here. IIRC, an example would be Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, who ran with Andrew Johnson, a Democrat.

 

[Andu Indorin]

Then again, there is no federal law requiring electors in the Electoral College to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their states. And while many states "bind" the electors to the state's popular vote, 24 states are not so bound (totalling 257 electoral votes). And Virginia's statute may be advisory ("Shall be expected" to vote for nominees). Altogether, exactly 270 electoral votes are not committed.

Supposing that the electors get together and decide neither Bush nor Kerry should be president, and instead opt for a "compromise" president.