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bedsitter23All voters are equal in America.
Of course, that's not true. For those that can remember back to 2000 know that America runs on the Electoral College (and yes, I think the Electoral College could bear Penn State in football this year). Electors are chosen (and in 48 states, it's a winner-takes all competition) and in theory, these people pledge to vote for who their state chose in the general election. Each party sends a slate, and they should, in turn, vote for their party's nominee,
Nothing stops them of course, but peer pressure, which is why John Edwards got 1 electoral vote in 2004, Lloyd Bentsen got one vote in 1988, and Geraldine Ferraro one vote in 1984. They are called Faithless Electors.
The big news today is about Melinda Wadsley, an elector who was undoubtedly pressured to resign, and in fact resigned because she wasn't going to vote for Mitt Romney, and had planned (should Iowa have went Red) to cast for Ron Paul.
It's a testament to Paul that his campaign was the most organized in getting supporters in key positions, despite a distant third place finish.
I can't imagine that Obama doesn't win (He has a 10-point advantage in Michigan, and has margin-of-error leads in Ohio and Florida), but let's consider this new angle.
There are three electors who have made comments that sound a bit noncommittal.
Ken Eastman says he is "undecided at this point" and "pretty disgusted" with the GOP. He is a Ron Paul guy.
Billie Zimmerman says Paul is the only candidate who can save the country. Jessie Law, is another Paul supporter who says he might not be fully behind Romney, but "just want(s) to beat Obama".
There are additional three, who likely will fall in line, but have made comments that might cause some notice.
Ken Searles says he might vote for Paul as a protest, but only if the vote wouldn't change the election. Kathleen Miller says something similar, and Iowa's Kurt Brown says he is "99 percent" behind Romney, but looking into the rules. He caucused for Santorum.
All six of these electors are in red or purple states- Texas, Alaska. Iowa, and Nevada- so should it come down to the last vote, it could change history. Three of the electors mentioned arelocated in Nevada which has a law that they must vote for the party's nominee, though there is no punishment associated with the law, and it's hard to say how it would be enforced.
(Much of this post is based on news from the Des Moines Register)
Of course, that's not true. For those that can remember back to 2000 know that America runs on the Electoral College (and yes, I think the Electoral College could bear Penn State in football this year). Electors are chosen (and in 48 states, it's a winner-takes all competition) and in theory, these people pledge to vote for who their state chose in the general election. Each party sends a slate, and they should, in turn, vote for their party's nominee,
Nothing stops them of course, but peer pressure, which is why John Edwards got 1 electoral vote in 2004, Lloyd Bentsen got one vote in 1988, and Geraldine Ferraro one vote in 1984. They are called Faithless Electors.
The big news today is about Melinda Wadsley, an elector who was undoubtedly pressured to resign, and in fact resigned because she wasn't going to vote for Mitt Romney, and had planned (should Iowa have went Red) to cast for Ron Paul.
It's a testament to Paul that his campaign was the most organized in getting supporters in key positions, despite a distant third place finish.
I can't imagine that Obama doesn't win (He has a 10-point advantage in Michigan, and has margin-of-error leads in Ohio and Florida), but let's consider this new angle.
There are three electors who have made comments that sound a bit noncommittal.
Ken Eastman says he is "undecided at this point" and "pretty disgusted" with the GOP. He is a Ron Paul guy.
Billie Zimmerman says Paul is the only candidate who can save the country. Jessie Law, is another Paul supporter who says he might not be fully behind Romney, but "just want(s) to beat Obama".
There are additional three, who likely will fall in line, but have made comments that might cause some notice.
Ken Searles says he might vote for Paul as a protest, but only if the vote wouldn't change the election. Kathleen Miller says something similar, and Iowa's Kurt Brown says he is "99 percent" behind Romney, but looking into the rules. He caucused for Santorum.
All six of these electors are in red or purple states- Texas, Alaska. Iowa, and Nevada- so should it come down to the last vote, it could change history. Three of the electors mentioned arelocated in Nevada which has a law that they must vote for the party's nominee, though there is no punishment associated with the law, and it's hard to say how it would be enforced.
(Much of this post is based on news from the Des Moines Register)
