Kerry gets first EV?

[zorkpolitics]

GOP mayor may use Electoral College
to lodge protest against president

South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb, a Bush Elector in WV, said today he may vote against George W. Bush in the Electoral College, even if the president carries West Virginia's popular vote.

There is no provision in the West Virginia code that controls what an elector does at the Electoral College or provides any punishment for faithless electors.

If he votes for Kerry this would breack a 269-269 tie.  If he votes for a third candidate, then this would send a 270-268 Bush victory to the House.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Yes, most states do not have provisions prohibiting faitheless electors.

However, he will have zero future in the Republican party if her carries out his threat.

[Lunar]

Unfortunately (Kerry perspective), the most plausible scenario for a tie has WV going Kerry.

[zorkpolitics]

Unfortunately (Kerry perspective), the most plausible scenario for a tie has WV going Kerry.

Here's three plausible senarios that end in tie with WV still going to Bush:

NH and NV go to Kerry
OH, NH go for Kerry and NM and WI go for Bush
FL and NH go for Kerry and NM, IA, and WI go for Bush

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Where did this story come from?
Does it explain why he's not voting for Bush?  Can the Bush campaign kick him off the slate?

[agcatter]

It's my understanding that he can't get kicked off.  Sloppy job by WV state Republicans - really sloppy.

[agcatter]

Nick, he disagrees with Bush on the war.

I don't have a problem with this guy voting his conscience.  After the closeness of 2000, I have a BIG problem with the state party picking anyone as a state elector that they weren't 100% certain would support the ticket.  The state Republican Party did this to itself.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

People should vote their conscience in the voting booth, not in the electoral college.  It's not the role of one person to subvert the will of millions of voters in their state.

That said, if the EC actually ended up TIED, I would hope that someone would defect and vote for whichever candidate won the national popular vote....since the House method of selecting the president is even less democratic than the EC.

[agcatter]

Well, your first statement about subverting the will of he state electorate does seem valid when I think about it.

He could resign, but I read where the state party is not going to ask him to do so.

[AuH2O]

I mean, not to get all excited here... but if, on the extreme small chance of an electoral tie, this guy did that... his job would be the last thing he should worry about.

Here's a super weird scenario: is it possible Bush could get 270, and then have this guy vote against him and send it to the House? I don't know how the numbers add up.

[Keystone Phil]

Let's remember that he MAY vote against President Bush. Also, look at the fact that he stated he may vote AGAINST Bush. That doesn't mean he'd vote for Kerry. We've seen people abstain and cast write in votes in the electoral college before so it is possible.

[Defarge]

This is ridiculous, even if it helps the Democrats.  

[raggage]

Yes, most states do not have provisions prohibiting faitheless electors.

However, he will have zero future in the Republican party if her carries out his threat.

I'm sure he doesn't care if he's even threatening to do so.

[agcatter]

The guy's life would never be the same and I think he would regret it.  Just like if a Maryland Kerry elector bolted.  This happens from time to time.  It would ONLY be of significance if it changed the election.  If it didn't, no one would really care.

[agcatter]

Hell no.  The Dems would just accept the gift thank you very much and the Kerry moving Van would unload at the White House.  And I wouldn't blame them one bit.

[Gustaf]

LOL! That would be pretty weird...you could reason that an elector could be representing the minority voting for the losing candidate.

But this is how politics work, plain and simple.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

What if someone kidnaps or blackmails some electors? As I've said before, it's time to ditch the electoral college.

[zorkpolitics]

What if someone kidnaps or blackmails some electors? As I've said before, it's time to ditch the electoral college.

If an elector does not show up to vote in the Elecotral College at noon on Dec  13 then the state party can replace the elector.  So kidnapping won't change anything, but extortion could.  After all Soros said he would spend $1 Billion of he could defeat Bush, maybe this is his plan?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Yes, most states do not have provisions prohibiting faitheless electors.

However, he will have zero future in the Republican party if her carries out his threat.

I'm sure he doesn't care if he's even threatening to do so.

You don't know much about politicians either.

I suspect the guy had a bad day and was looking for a little media attention (his five minutes of fame).

Suspect he took his phone off the hook and is going into hiding to avoid the fallout from his gaffe.

[minionofmidas]

Yes, most states do not have provisions prohibiting faitheless electors.

However, he will have zero future in the Republican party if her carries out his threat.

I'm sure he doesn't care if he's even threatening to do so.

You don't know much about politicians either.

I suspect the guy had a bad day and was looking for a little media attention (his five minutes of fame).

Suspect he took his phone off the hook and is going into hiding to avoid the fallout from his gaffe.

Yeah, five minutes of fame are assured...
But he definitely can't get anywhere beyond local government in the WV Rep. party now, can he?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Yes, most states do not have provisions prohibiting faitheless electors.

However, he will have zero future in the Republican party if her carries out his threat.

I'm sure he doesn't care if he's even threatening to do so.

You don't know much about politicians either.

I suspect the guy had a bad day and was looking for a little media attention (his five minutes of fame).

Suspect he took his phone off the hook and is going into hiding to avoid the fallout from his gaffe.

Yeah, five minutes of fame are assured...
But he definitely can't get anywhere beyond local government in the WV Rep. party now, can he?

If he tries to run for reelection as a Republican he wont even get renominated.!

[minionofmidas]

Depends, actually...
If he's been getting elected for being a good mayor etc, rather than for being a Republican - and that's the rule in rural or smalltown areas - , this would probably not hurt him overmuch. Unless he wants to run fro something larger, that is.
So I'd figure he has no intention of doing that.

[Fritz]

A faithless elector has never changed the outcome of an election, and I highly doubt that will happen this time.

[raggage]

A faithless elector has never changed the outcome of an election, and I highly doubt that will happen this time.

Agreed.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Depends, actually...
If he's been getting elected for being a good mayor etc, rather than for being a Republican - and that's the rule in rural or smalltown areas - , this would probably not hurt him overmuch. Unless he wants to run fro something larger, that is.
So I'd figure he has no intention of doing that.

You really should take a closer look at American elections.

Suspect his past supporters (those who funded his campaign, those who handled petitions for him, etc.) will be very angry with him.

Also, the people of West Virginia get pretty angry with bait and switch tactics.