D-Day Preview of the DayBs Top Political News By Elizabeth Wilner LINK Nov. 7 B ItBs a political news junkyBs holiday. Voters are already at the polls but still, no one knows whether Republican George W. Bush or Democrat Al Gore is going to win the presidency. ThereBs the real possibility of an electoral college/popular vote split for the first time since 1888. The first lady is a favorite to win election to the Senate B joined, perhaps, by a dead man from Missouri and a Democratic financier who has spent an estimated $65 million on his own campaign. If that werenBt enough, the Republican PartyBs margins in the House and Senate seem likely to shrink even further, though stopping short of a switch in control. In short, in addition to some history-making moments, the end of the night may bring electoral and governmental chaos. Election Week? There are too many variables and possible outcomes to run through them all, from the White House, to the House, to the Senate. Under some perfectly plausible scenarios, with absentee ballots and possible recounts, control of any or all of the three might not be known for days. None of todayBs 11 governors races has worked its way into the national consciousness. Twelve to 15 House races are still roughly toss-ups. ABCNEWS ranks nine Senate races as too close to call now, as well. Split Second In the final ABCNEWS tracking poll, respondents were asked Monday night what should happen if one candidate were to win the popular vote but another were to win the electoral college. By a two-to-one ratio, 63 percent to 32 percent, respondents said that the winner of the popular vote should become president. The Wall Street Journal reports that, BFor the record, George W. Bush has said publicly that he supports the electoral system, and a top aide, Karl Rove, predicts the candidate wouldnBt favor trying to thwart it if he ends up on the losing end of such a scenario.B Scorecard For the presidential race, hereBs a brief mental checklist by which to proceed through the afternoon and evening: big turnout among blacks and labor, and carrying Michigan and Pennsylvania are mandatory components for any Gore win. Florida, Missouri, and a handful of the BLesser AntillesB (New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, etc.) are must-haves for Bush. Bush could win (surprisingly) big B even Democrats concede that some combination of greater Republican intensity, Clinton fatigue, and GoreBs personality problems might lead to a big Bush win in the popular and electoral vote. Both Gore and Bush currently seem positioned, however, for narrow victories.
Here is the simplest way to watch the night:

1) Bush wins Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania: the race is over.
2) Bush wins two of these three: the race is over.
3) Bush wins one of the three: Bush must win about 44 percent of electoral votes among the BLesser AntillesB B the smaller toss-up states listed below B to win.
4) Gore wins all three: Gore must win about 30 percent of the smaller toss-up state electoral votes to win.

(This leaves 82 electoral votes unallocated, from Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.) Where Are They Now? All four candidates cast their votes today in their home states, then running mates Joseph Lieberman and Dick Cheney make their way to Nashville and Austin, respectively. A confident Bush has just that one public event today in Austin, whereas Gore held two ungodly early events in Florida this morning before even casting his vote, and makes remarks to students afterward before holing up at his Nashville hotel. ABCNEWSB Dana Hill reports that Gore, rallying the troops at 6:30 a.m. ET in Tampa, Fla., poked fun of BushBs sleeping schedule: BWell, itBs 5:30 a.m. Texas time, George W. Bush is still asleep and IBm still out here campaigning.B ABCNEWSB John Berman reports that, after days of browbeating reporters with claims of a big victory tonight, Bush aides got all sorts of upset (shock) that these tactics actually were covered. Rain Check Hill notes Gore aidesB obsession with the weather. Bad weather may depress turnout in Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, and New Mexico (where itBs been snowing), as well as Iowa and Missouri this morning. Hill notes that of the all states potentially affected by weather, Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile is most concerned about Tennessee, where they have less of a political apparatus to drive turnout. Lame Duck ABCNEWSB Tamara Lipper reports that whether or not President Clinton will make remarks on election night remains to be seen, though he definitely will be on stage with his wife tonight in New York. White House spokesman Jake Siewert said Monday that we might not hear from the president until Wednesday. Third Watch ABCNEWSB Rebecca Bershadker reports that on Monday, Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader was verbally accosted by an impassioned Gore supporter at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.: BYouBre going to cost Gore the election and you will have lost a fine reputationB shouted the middle-age woman. Bershadker notes that, perhaps in an effort to get out of the whole uncomfortable scene, Nader said to the woman: BDonBt worry, Gore will win.B GOTV Guide A round-up of last-minute get-out-the-vote and absentee ballot highlights: B On the absentee vote front, the New York Daily News has a good round up: BWashington State has issued 1.5 million absentee ballots, 51 percent of projected turnout, but the counting process will not end until Nov. 22, according to election officials... In California, with 54 electoral votes, 3.24 million absentee ballots have been issued, and election officials say 85 percent of those will be returned. ThatBs 25 percent of the votes that will be cast in California... In hotly contested Florida, with 25 electoral votes, absentee ballots issued are up nearly 10% from the 1996 election in densely populated Miami-Dade and Broward counties... In New York State... absentees could be a factor in the close Senate race. About 400,000 absentee ballots have been issued, with 66 percent returned, according to state officials.B B The Washington Post reports: BRepublicans estimate they will complete as many as 100 million phone calls B 62 million by hired phone banks, the rest by volunteers B during the last five days of the campaign. ThatBs an unprecedented number B roughly twice the total of votes it will take to win the White House.B B The Wall Street Journal looks at the $5.7 million spent by the Republican National Committee on Internet-releated efforts to get out the vote. The New York Times reports that a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Bsaid the Democrats would be spending less money, $30 million, and mobilizing fewer troops, 50,000, than the Republicans. But the Democrats have...been able to rely on outside allies... mainly .... labor unions, abortion-rights advocates, environmental organizations and civil rights groups.B Bershadker reports that a Nader aide said that a group called the B7:30 BrigadeB who will Bhit the streetsB on the West Coast to bring people to the polls if BGore has it locked up.B Nader aides believe that a strong Gore showing will enable their West Coast supporters to Bvote their conscience.B Empire Stakes Whoever wins, the New York Senate race will go down as one of the costliest Senate campaigns in history, with the candidates, including drop-out Rudolph Giuliani, spending $78 million through mid-October. All three Clintons B Hillary, Chelsea and Bill B voted at the Douglas Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua this morning. Mrs. ClintonBs GOP rival for the stateBs open Senate seat has a full day of campaigning scheduled. ABCNEWSB Stephen Yesner reports Lazio told a reporter that he wished he had more time, presumably given the somewhat tightening polls of late, and that the mood among the Lazio camp is one of tense anticipation.

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), November 07, 2000

Answers

Yuck. Sorry about that. Just follow the link.

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), November 07, 2000.

Let's try one more time. . . D-Day Preview of the Day's Top Political News By Elizabeth Wilner L INK Nov. 7 - It's a political news junky's holiday. Voters are already at the polls but still, no one knows whether Republican George W. Bush or Democrat Al Gore is going to win the presidency. There's the real possibility of an electoral college/popular vote split for the first time since 1888. The first lady is a favorite to win election to the Senate - joined, perhaps, by a dead man from Missouri and a Democratic financier who has spent an estimated $65 million on his own campaign. If that weren't enough, the Republican Party's margins in the House and Senate seem likely to shrink even further, though stopping short of a switch in control. In short, in addition to some history-making moments, the end of the night may bring electoral and governmental chaos. Election Week? There are too many variables and possible outcomes to run through them all, from the White House, to the House, to the Senate. Under some perfectly plausible scenarios, with absentee ballots and possible recounts, control of any or all of the three might not be known for days. None of today's 11 governors races has worked its way into the national consciousness. Twelve to 15 House races are still roughly toss-ups. ABCNEWS ranks nine Senate races as too close to call now, as well. Split Second In the final ABCNEWS tracking poll, respondents were asked Monday night what should happen if one candidate were to win the popular vote but another were to win the electoral college. By a two-to-one ratio, 63 percent to 32 percent, respondents said that the winner of the popular vote should become president. The Wall Street Journal reports that, "For the record, George W. Bush has said publicly that he supports the electoral system, and a top aide, Karl Rove, predicts the candidate wouldn't favor trying to thwart it if he ends up on the losing end of such a scenario." Scorecard For the presidential race, here's a brief mental checklist by which to proceed through the afternoon and evening: big turnout among blacks and labor, and carrying Michigan and Pennsylvania are mandatory components for any Gore win. Florida, Missouri, and a handful of the "Lesser Antilles" (New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, etc.) are must-haves for Bush. Bush could win (surprisingly) big - even Democrats concede that some combination of greater Republican intensity, Clinton fatigue, and Gore's personality problems might lead to a big Bush win in the popular and electoral vote. Both Gore and Bush currently seem positioned, however, for narrow victories.

Here is the simplest way to watch the night:

1) Bush wins Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania: the race is over.
2) Bush wins two of these three: the race is over.
3) Bush wins one of the three: Bush must win about 44 percent of electoral votes among the "Lesser Antilles" - the smaller toss-up states listed below - to win.
4) Gore wins all three: Gore must win about 30 percent of the smaller toss-up state electoral votes to win.

(This leaves 82 electoral votes unallocated, from Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.) Where Are They Now? All four candidates cast their votes today in their home states, then running mates Joseph Lieberman and Dick Cheney make their way to Nashville and Austin, respectively. A confident Bush has just that one public event today in Austin, whereas Gore held two ungodly early events in Florida this morning before even casting his vote, and makes remarks to students afterward before holing up at his Nashville hotel. ABCNEWS' Dana Hill reports that Gore, rallying the troops at 6:30 a.m. ET in Tampa, Fla., poked fun of Bush's sleeping schedule: "Well, it's 5:30 a.m. Texas time, George W. Bush is still asleep and I'm still out here campaigning." ABCNEWS' John Berman reports that, after days of browbeating reporters with claims of a big victory tonight, Bush aides got all sorts of upset (shock) that these tactics actually were covered. Rain Check Hill notes Gore aides' obsession with the weather. Bad weather may depress turnout in Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, and New Mexico (where it's been snowing), as well as Iowa and Missouri this morning. Hill notes that of the all states potentially affected by weather, Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile is most concerned about Tennessee, where they have less of a political apparatus to drive turnout. Lame Duck ABCNEWS' Tamara Lipper reports that whether or not President Clinton will make remarks on election night remains to be seen, though he definitely will be on stage with his wife tonight in New York. White House spokesman Jake Siewert said Monday that we might not hear from the president until Wednesday. Third Watch ABCNEWS' Rebecca Bershadker reports that on Monday, Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader was verbally accosted by an impassioned Gore supporter at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.: "You're going to cost Gore the election and you will have lost a fine reputation" shouted the middle-age woman. Bershadker notes that, perhaps in an effort to get out of the whole uncomfortable scene, Nader said to the woman: "Don't worry, Gore will win." GOTV Guide A round-up of last-minute get-out-the-vote and absentee ballot highlights: - On the absentee vote front, the New York Daily News has a good round up: "Washington State has issued 1.5 million absentee ballots, 51 percent of projected turnout, but the counting process will not end until Nov. 22, according to election officials... In California, with 54 electoral votes, 3.24 million absentee ballots have been issued, and election officials say 85 percent of those will be returned. That's 25 percent of the votes that will be cast in California... In hotly contested Florida, with 25 electoral votes, absentee ballots issued are up nearly 10% from the 1996 election in densely populated Miami-Dade and Broward counties... In New York State... absentees could be a factor in the close Senate race. About 400,000 absentee ballots have been issued, with 66 percent returned, according to state officials." - The Washington Post reports: "Republicans estimate they will complete as many as 100 million phone calls - 62 million by hired phone banks, the rest by volunteers - during the last five days of the campaign. That's an unprecedented number - roughly twice the total of votes it will take to win the White House." The Wall Street Journal looks at the $5.7 million spent by the Republican National Committee on Internet-releated efforts to get out the vote. The New York Times reports that a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman "said the Democrats would be spending less money, $30 million, and mobilizing fewer troops, 50,000, than the Republicans. But the Democrats have...been able to rely on outside allies... mainly .... labor unions, abortion-rights advocates, environmental organizations and civil rights groups." Bershadker reports that a Nader aide said that a group called the "7:30 Brigade" who will "hit the streets" on the West Coast to bring people to the polls if "Gore has it locked up." Nader aides believe that a strong Gore showing will enable their West Coast supporters to "vote their conscience." Empire Stakes Whoever wins, the New York Senate race will go down as one of the costliest Senate campaigns in history, with the candidates, including drop-out Rudolph Giuliani, spending $78 million through mid-October. All three Clintons - Hillary, Chelsea and Bill - voted at the Douglas Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua this morning. Mrs. Clinton's GOP rival for the state's open Senate seat has a full day of campaigning scheduled. ABCNEWS' Stephen Yesner reports Lazio told a reporter that he wished he had more time, presumably given the somewhat tightening polls of late, and that the mood among the Lazio camp is one of tense anticipation.

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), November 07, 2000.

Grrrrrrr..

D-Day

Preview of the Day's Top Political News

By Elizabeth Wilner

L INK

Nov. 7 - It's a political news junky's holiday.

Voters are already at the polls but still, no one knows whether Republican George W. Bush or Democrat Al Gore is going to win the presidency. There's the real possibility of an electoral college/popular vote split for the first time since 1888. The first lady is a favorite to win election to the Senate - joined, perhaps, by a dead man from Missouri and a Democratic financier who has spent an estimated $65 million on his own campaign. If that weren't enough, the Republican Party's margins in the House and Senate seem likely to shrink even further, though stopping short of a switch in control.

In short, in addition to some history-making moments, the end of the night may bring electoral and governmental chaos.

Election Week?

There are too many variables and possible outcomes to run through them all, from the White House, to the House, to the Senate. Under some perfectly plausible scenarios, with absentee ballots and possible recounts, control of any or all of the three might not be known for days.

None of today's 11 governors races has worked its way into the national consciousness. Twelve to 15 House races are still roughly toss-ups. ABCNEWS ranks nine Senate races as too close to call now, as well.

Split Second

In the final ABCNEWS tracking poll, respondents were asked Monday night what should happen if one candidate were to win the popular vote but another were to win the electoral college. By a two-to-one ratio, 63 percent to 32 percent, respondents said that the winner of the popular vote should become president. The Wall Street Journal reports that, "For the record, George W. Bush has said publicly that he supports the electoral system, and a top aide, Karl Rove, predicts the candidate wouldn't favor trying to thwart it if he ends up on the losing end of such a scenario."

Scorecard

For the presidential race, here's a brief mental checklist by which to proceed through the afternoon and evening: big turnout among blacks and labor, and carrying Michigan and Pennsylvania are mandatory components for any Gore win. Florida, Missouri, and a handful of the "Lesser Antilles" (New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, etc.) are must-haves for Bush.

Bush could win (surprisingly) big - even Democrats concede that some combination of greater Republican intensity, Clinton fatigue, and Gore's personality problems might lead to a big Bush win in the popular and electoral vote. Both Gore and Bush currently seem positioned, however, for narrow victories.

Here is the simplest way to watch the night:

1) Bush wins Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania: the race is over.
2) Bush wins two of these three: the race is over.
3) Bush wins one of the three: Bush must win about 44 percent of electoral votes among the "Lesser Antilles" - the smaller toss-up states listed below - to win.
4) Gore wins all three: Gore must win about 30 percent of the smaller toss-up state electoral votes to win.

(This leaves 82 electoral votes unallocated, from Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.)

Where Are They Now?

All four candidates cast their votes today in their home states, then running mates Joseph Lieberman and Dick Cheney make their way to Nashville and Austin, respectively.

A confident Bush has just that one public event today in Austin, whereas Gore held two ungodly early events in Florida this morning before even casting his vote, and makes remarks to students afterward before holing up at his Nashville hotel. ABCNEWS' Dana Hill reports that Gore, rallying the troops at 6:30 a.m. ET in Tampa, Fla., poked fun of Bush's sleeping schedule: "Well, it's 5:30 a.m. Texas time, George W. Bush is still asleep and I'm still out here campaigning."

ABCNEWS' John Berman reports that, after days of browbeating reporters with claims of a big victory tonight, Bush aides got all sorts of upset (shock) that these tactics actually were covered.

Rain Check

Hill notes Gore aides' obsession with the weather. Bad weather may depress turnout in Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, and New Mexico (where it's been snowing), as well as Iowa and Missouri this morning. Hill notes that of the all states potentially affected by weather, Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile is most concerned about Tennessee, where they have less of a political apparatus to drive turnout.

Lame Duck

ABCNEWS' Tamara Lipper reports that whether or not President Clinton will make remarks on election night remains to be seen, though he definitely will be on stage with his wife tonight in New York. White House spokesman Jake Siewert said Monday that we might not hear from the president until Wednesday.

Third Watch

ABCNEWS' Rebecca Bershadker reports that on Monday, Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader was verbally accosted by an impassioned Gore supporter at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.: "You're going to cost Gore the election and you will have lost a fine reputation" shouted the middle-age woman. Bershadker notes that, perhaps in an effort to get out of the whole uncomfortable scene, Nader said to the woman: "Don't worry, Gore will win."

GOTV Guide

A round-up of last-minute get-out-the-vote and absentee ballot highlights: - On the absentee vote front, the New York Daily News has a good round up: "Washington State has issued 1.5 million absentee ballots, 51 percent of projected turnout, but the counting process will not end until Nov. 22, according to election officials... In California, with 54 electoral votes, 3.24 million absentee ballots have been issued, and election officials say 85 percent of those will be returned. That's 25 percent of the votes that will be cast in California... In hotly contested Florida, with 25 electoral votes, absentee ballots issued are up nearly 10% from the 1996 election in densely populated Miami-Dade and Broward counties... In New York State... absentees could be a factor in the close Senate race. About 400,000 absentee ballots have been issued, with 66 percent returned, according to state officials."

- The Washington Post reports: "Republicans estimate they will complete as many as 100 million phone calls - 62 million by hired phone banks, the rest by volunteers - during the last five days of the campaign. That's an unprecedented number - roughly twice the total of votes it will take to win the White House."

The Wall Street Journal looks at the $5.7 million spent by the Republican National Committee on Internet-releated efforts to get out the vote. The New York Times reports that a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman "said the Democrats would be spending less money, $30 million, and mobilizing fewer troops, 50,000, than the Republicans. But the Democrats have...been able to rely on outside allies... mainly .... labor unions, abortion-rights advocates, environmental organizations and civil rights groups." Bershadker reports that a Nader aide said that a group called the "7:30 Brigade" who will "hit the streets" on the West Coast to bring people to the polls if "Gore has it locked up." Nader aides believe that a strong Gore showing will enable their West Coast supporters to "vote their conscience."

Empire Stakes

Whoever wins, the New York Senate race will go down as one of the costliest Senate campaigns in history, with the candidates, including drop-out Rudolph Giuliani, spending $78 million through mid- October.

All three Clintons - Hillary, Chelsea and Bill - voted at the Douglas Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua this morning. Mrs. Clinton's GOP rival for the state's open Senate seat has a full day of campaigning scheduled. ABCNEWS' Stephen Yesner reports Lazio told a reporter that he wished he had more time, presumably given the somewhat tightening polls of late, and that the mood among the Lazio camp is one of tense anticipation.



-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), November 07, 2000.

The link worked fine, Hmm. I almost don't understand why you went to the trouble to format it, except that I'm anal-retentive also, and wouldn't have been able to leave that crappy mess sit either. [grin]

I'm particularly intrigued by the "dead man" race [no disrespect intended toward Mel or his family], and if you're interested in a little "dead man race" humor, you might enjoy the following link.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 07, 2000.