What happens if Romney wins the Electoral College & Obama wins the Popular Vote?

[Eraserhead]

I realize the opposite seems much more likely right now but the Bush and Gore people were initially preparing for the reverse of what happened as well...

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Democrats cower in fear of Romney and his awesome mandate like they did for George W Bush.

Maybe if he also blatantly steals a Presidential election, people might not stand for it this time, but they'll probably just fold.

[Eraserhead]

I think things would have the potential to get very, very ugly in the short-term at least.

[BlueSwan]

sh**t all.

The only thing that will make a difference going forward is if Obama wins the electoral college and Romney wins the popular vote.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I have a feeling that there will be much more social unrest, scandal, and hard feelings if the situation was reversed. If Romney won the electoral college but lost the popular vote maybe some Democrats get all huffy about it but it would basically ensure the existence of the electoral college for another generation as Republicans would harden in their opposition to electoral reform.

[Stirring Wolf🥣🐺]

A few partisans would be upset over it; overall no changes to the system.

[Joe Republic]

I have a feeling that there will be much more social unrest, scandal, and hard feelings if the situation was reversed. If Romney won the electoral college but lost the popular vote maybe some Democrats get all huffy about it but it would basically ensure the existence of the electoral college for another generation as Republicans would harden in their opposition to electoral reform.

Don't forget the ensuing race riots.  The protests after the Bush-Gore debacle would seem like a picnic once it's a black man being cheated out of office.  Which would only create even more lingering tension between whites and blacks after things settle down and the whites are still in control.

[The Vorlon]

What happens if Romney wins the Electoral College & Obama wins the Popular Vote?

Romney would be President and Al Gore would have a new drinking buddy?

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I have an extremely amusing and very late night.

Democrats make some pious-sounding speeches that boil down to, "we don't like the results, but we're going to suck it up and live with it, for which we should get bonus points." Unless, say, Ohio is in recount range, at which point there probably will be recounts and lawsuits. The final outcome of the ensuing circus: Romney wins.

The talking heads go into mind-numbing (and occasionally incorrect) detail about the mechanics of the Electoral College for weeks.

There's a fair amount of talk (and a ridiculous amount of media attention) paid to the idea of abolishing the Electoral College. It gets folded into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact .

Romney gets sworn in for his 1st term. (What bible he uses takes up at least one news cycle.)

There are small protests in the streets which the media covers as if they're more significant than they actually are.

However... the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact gets a significant boost.  It may make it past the threshold where it will go into effect in 2016. If that happens, there will be tons of wacky election-related hijinks from both parties for the next four years, including, but not limited to: a Supreme Court challenge, efforts to get states who passed it to repeal it, attempts to stack the elector selection process and to change state laws regarding faithless electors, and last but not least, pseudo-serious succession threats.

[Skill and Chance]

I have an extremely amusing and very late night.

Democrats make some pious-sounding speeches that boil down to, "we don't like the results, but we're going to suck it up and live with it, for which we should get bonus points." Unless, say, Ohio is in recount range, at which point there probably will be recounts and lawsuits. The final outcome of the ensuing circus: Romney wins.

The talking heads go into mind-numbing (and occasionally incorrect) detail about the mechanics of the Electoral College for weeks.

There's a fair amount of talk (and a ridiculous amount of media attention) paid to the idea of abolishing the Electoral College. It gets folded into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact .

Romney gets sworn in for his 1st term. (What bible he uses takes up at least one news cycle.)

There are small protests in the streets which the media covers as if they're more significant than they actually are.

However... the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact gets a significant boost.  It may make it past the threshold where it will go into effect in 2016. If that happens, there will be tons of wacky election-related hijinks from both parties for the next four years, including, but not limited to: a Supreme Court challenge, efforts to get states who passed it to repeal it, attempts to stack the elector selection process and to change state laws regarding faithless electors, and last but not least, pseudo-serious succession threats.

Republicans have enough states to unilaterally put NPV into effect in 2013 if Romney is the one who loses in a technicality. Dems would need a wave in 2014 to take enough states to do it if Obama loses...