The Electoral College is Declared to be tied by CNN... Your reaction?

[J. J.]

Stunned silence.  

[Ljube]

I will open a bottle of wine and celebrate.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I will look very closely at the House race and then prepare for a Romney/Biden administration.  Yikes!!

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Hope that the election is decided properly in the House (and Senate for VP) instead of the courts.

[angus]

Awesome.  That'd be most exciting election ever.  I've often posted about a brokered convention here, and the talking heads pump it every time, but we're always disappointed.  Still, a tie in the EC is a thousand times better than that.  I'm not getting my hopes up, though.  Most of the time you know who wins even before going to bed.  It's all pretty boring.  2000 was exciting, but even that one was settled in the normal way, with the EC giving its votes to one candidate long before the January 6 congressional counting festivities. 

If it actually happened I'd laugh, have a big drink, and check in here to enjoy the ensuing panic.

[Lincoln Republican]

No problem.

Mitt still becomes President, as the GOP still holds the House.

And Mitt becoming President is the main thing, even if it is decided in the House.

And I am not entirely certain that Biden would want the Vice Presidency in a Romney administration, if the Senate confirms him.  He may withdraw from contention.  

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I'd be nervous as hell, but if all went well... I'd love it.

[Niemeyerite]

I'd hope the winner of the PV is elected in the House.

[angus]

Mitt still becomes President, as the GOP still holds the House.

You can't really know that, for sure.  I realize that this is the way the talking heads always spin it:  in each state, the majority delegation in that state gives its one vote to its party's nominee.  But there's really no way to know that this is what they'll do.  The house has chosen the president four times, and they haven't always done it that way.  In 1824 they did just what Winfield is imagining, to the shock of Andrew Jackson.  In 1876, however, the House was controlled by the Democrats, yet they did not elect Tilden.  In that election, a special electoral commission was set up and decided by one member, a Supreme Court justice who happened to be a Republican.

Also, there's no precedent for what JulioMadrid is suggesting. 

No one can predict what they'll do, and that's what makes it so exciting.  I think stocks will tumble a bit, due to uncertainty, but that's a small price to pay for the joy and excitement of it all, and I don't think the market will crash.  If you're a good gambler, you may even come out on top.  Put equal shares on companies that want to build pipelines and on companies that make wind power, for example.  Hedge your bets.  But no matter how you decide to invest, be sure to enjoy the spectacle.

[anvi]

"Wow, the Year of the Dragon actually sucks."

[Wisconsin+17]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Someone should save this quote.

[With you in spirit]

I'd laugh for a few hours

[limac333]

I would be awaiting a month of the 538 electors becoming household names, with the inevitable bribery attempts to flip a vote or two.

[rockhound]

I'd hope the winner of the most states is elected in the House.

[Lincoln Republican]

Anyone who thinks the winner of the PV will be elected in the House or the winner of the most states will be elected in the House, if his party does not have a majority in the House is dreaming.

In reality, in the case of a tie, obviously, the candidate whose party has a majority in the House will be elected President in the House.  And all indications are the Republicans will control the House after the election.

Clearly, in the event of a tie, the House will vote on straight party lines, regardless of whether their candidate won the most PV or the most states.  They are not going to play nice just because their candidate didn't receive the most PV or win the most states.  There is simply too much at stake, and they will definitely put their man into the Presidency.  It's completely constitutional.

The other party can complain and protest all they want, and they would, but it would make no difference.  They would have absolutely no legal or constitutional grounds to stand on.  Moral grounds perhaps, but certainly no legal or constitutional grounds.  The Presidency would be decided for the next four years once the House votes in this scenario of a tie in the EC.   

[sentinel]

CNN has a habit of not doing their homework and calling things too soon. I'd turn on Fox News or MSNBC

[J. J.]

Personally, I think the members should vote their districts. 

[Vosem]

Celebrate. Not only does Romney win, but I get to enjoy more entertainment. Plus, this call would likely only come after several interesting days. In the Chinese sense. Would be a satisfying if unexpected conclusion.

"May you live in interesting times"

[Adam Griffin]

At least we still have Biden.

[Chartist]

Brace myself for the gigantic bribery contest on the horizon.

[tmthforu94]

Where are you getting this from? The CNN map I'm looking at has an Obama edge.

[J. J.]

Where are you getting this from? The CNN map I'm looking at has an Obama edge.

It's our hypothetical reaction. 

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

'Here comes the fun part.'

[rbt48]

If this totally unlikely tie were to occur, recall that each state gets one vote in the House.  So it wouldn't be like a 235 to 200 thing.  It would take 26 states to win.  Right now, I find it hard to find a way that the GOP controls less then 28 state delegations.  Advantage Romney.

In the Senate, if Biden wants the job, I imagine he gets it.  But two scenarios would be really interesting.  If the Senate ends up 50-50 (very unlikely) he might not be entitled to a tie breaking vote as the Constitution reserves this vote for Senators.  Of course, there would be arguments, a Parliamentarian ruling, and perhaps a Supreme Court decision.  Another scenario would be a Republican filibuster.  After Romney is inaugurated, he declares the Vice Presidency to be vacant (well, it would be) and appoints a VP designate IAW the 25th Amendment.  Wow, this would be fun.