Very detailed! Though not a fan of the end results, great job! 
Thanks!
I'm not a fan of the end results either. I went into writing this really not knowing what the outcome would be, and just decided to think through it as I wrote. The only thing I knew when I started it is that I basically wanted conditions to be such that the race was about even. Then, as I worked my way through the story, I basically came to the conclusion as I looked at it state-by-state that a basically even race nationally probably wouldn't result in enough of a turnover to flip the small states that ended up being crucial. Even if I'd given Virginia to Daniels, which I was seriously considering doing all along, even until the possible recount wrinkle, I think Obama would crawl across the finish line first in the end based on the starting assumptions. In a way, thinking through this has brought me to the conclusion that, if by general election season next year, the GOP nominee doesn't have a clear lead on Obama that's three points nationally or better, it will be hard for them to get all the states back they need to win.
But, who knows, it could all be dead wrong, it's just playing around anyway. But, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.
I do the same thing - I never know who's going to win in the end until there's just a few tossup states left.
Well, except the "Election of Mitt Romney" one. I had a pretty good idea who'd win that, just wasn't sure how he'd win it.
