Can Obama Make it to 270?
It will be tough, but as we see it right now, Barack Obama can make it to 269. As can his Republican challenger, John McCain.
That’s right. There are an even number of electoral votes in a general election - 538 - therefore the two candidates can - theoretically - tie.
If the contenders finished election night in a 269-269 draw, it would be up to the U.S. House of Representatives to decide the winner.
And you thought the Democratic superdelegate mess was confusing.
In any case, with Hillary Clinton all but finished, Barack Obama is already looking ahead to November, he will have his hands full John McCain.
Right now, we see them in a dead, electoral college heat:
The months to come will almost certainly throw the race towards one or the other - perhaps decisively so. But here’s how it shapes up right now, in the opinion of our experts, broken down region by region …
THE MID-ATLANTIC
Barack Obama 83, John McCain 5
- New York (31): Obama
- Pennsylvania (21): Obama
- West Virginia (5): McCain
- Delaware (3): Obama
- District of Columbia (3): Obama
- Maryland (10): Obama
- New Jersey (15): Obama
NOTES: Talk of McCain stealing New Jersey or Pennsylvania is premature. If Obama selects the right V.P., it shouldn’t happen - and it really shouldn’t regardless. As for West Virginia, well, you saw the primary.
NATIONAL
