Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A Romney/Biden Presidency

Photo - This scenario, which may not be too far-flung, would cause a tie in the Electoral College between Mitt Romney (red) and Barack Obama (blue). Image from CNN's Electoral College calculator.

It is not implausible and entirely out of the question that that the Electoral College votes could be split in a 269/ 269 tie.  If Obama carries Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin - and Romney carries Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, Virgina, Colorado and Nevada the Electoral votes would be tied. 


Under the U.S. Constitution, in the event of an Electoral College tie, the presidential race is turned over to the House of Representatives (assuming no unexpected defections when the electors formally vote in December). And here’s the twist: Each state would get just one vote, based on what the majority of its own delegation decides. A candidate would thus need 26 votes to win.   

So if the House elects the President they would likely choose Romney, and if the Senate elects the Vice President they would likely choose Biden.

There was already a tie in Dixville Notch, NH.  Five votes went to Obama and five to Romney.



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