Larry,

That's what I had thought as well. Only in the case of a tie vote would things get tossed into the House.

While I am wildly enthusiastic about the opportunity to teach folks about the real process, and really in the long run do not mind the messiness, I must admit to beoing more than a little annoyed at what I perceive in the Gore camp at an attempt to steal the results. They've had two recounts - both for Bush. At what point is enough enough? When Gore wins? How long will they drag it out? *shrug*



>Doug,
>The way I heard it was if there is no winner in the electoral college. That usually means in the event of a tie (269-269). However, if we have manual recounts for all of Florida (and possibly New Mexico, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire), it could still end up that way.
>
>>Larry,
>>
>>Is that also in the case of a contested election as well as a real tie?
>>
>>If so then it's Bush/Cheney as the Congress is a Republican majority wouldn't you think?
>>
>>>I have also heard from several of the network "gurus" that if no clear cut winner is decided then the President is slected by the Senate and the Vice President is selected by the House of Reps.
>>>
>>>But that may be only if the vote is a tie.
>>>
>>>>John,
>>>>
>>>>>And if Florida isn't decided (or the results have not been certified -- possibly via an injunction) by Dec. 18th, the winner of the Electoral College will be Al Gore, who currently has the majority.
>>>>>
>>>>>He doesn't need 270 to win ... just the majority of the certified ballots at the time of the meeting of the Electoral College. As per the law, as espoused in the NY Times yesterday. I just is a matter of what OTHER states haven't been certified -- New Mexico's back in the mix.
>>>>
>>>>Do you have a definitive reference on that point, other than Clymer's claim in that article? It's an interesting angle, but I've also seen a reference to a provision for state legislatures to choose electors if there is a problem with the election of them as the deadline approaches.
>>>>
>>>>It's a murky area that will surely be discussed and researched in the coming days.