The Cook Report contributes to the latest obsession:
[T]he odds still favor the popular and electoral vote heading in the same direction, but the chances of a split like the one in 2000 are very real, along with the distinct possibility of ambiguity and vote-counting issues once again putting the outcome in question.
To that, Charlie Cook adds, "Ugh." I modestly share the speculative outlook, but not so much the ugh. After the indescribable horror of 2000, a Romney popular-vote victory losing to an Obama Electoral College victory would unmistakably represent a contemporary miracle--real divine-retribution stuff.
It's hard to imagine anything more pleasing than the right's howls of injustice that would follow a reelected President Obama via a W.-like minority win.
I would gladly forgo that particular pleasure. It would be a lot more pleasing to see Obama win with a popular-vote landslide or at least mandate-sized victory. The right will howl in any case.
Posted by: priscianus jr | October 19, 2012 at 12:04 PM
I second that emotion, P. Jr. Things will be tough enough in an Obama second term without that particular fecal storm.
Posted by: Janicket | October 19, 2012 at 01:24 PM
You are shouted down, PM.
Posted by: Jim Milstein | October 19, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Well, say not shouted down; say rather, backed into a corner and reasoned with till no longer resistant.
Posted by: Janicket | October 19, 2012 at 05:36 PM