O. K., little math quiz. 538 total electoral votes. Divide that by 2, you get 269. This is why they are always talking about the magic "270" needed to win the election. But there is a reasonably plausible scenario here in which we could have a 269-269 tie. Does anyone know what would happen then?
If Kerry wins each state that Gore won, that would put him at 260. If he adds NH, in his own back yard, that would put him at 264. Nothing out of the realm of possibility yet. O. K., then there are 2 other states, West Virginia and Nevada, that are worth 5 EV's each. Those states both went to Bush last time and the polls are indicating that they are close this time. Suppose, for the sake of discussion, that Kerry wins one of those two, but not both. Suppose that Bush then holds all of the other states that he won in 2000. That would put both candidates at 269, with neither one of them reaching the 270. Does anyone know what would happen? Don't tell me it would end up in the Supreme Court's lap again.