What if there is 'no' winner?

[sjdnb]

With all of the suspected and proven occurrances of voter registration fraud and corruption in this election as well as the questions regarding the legitimacy of the vote count, it seems to me that too few are talking about what happens if in fact, there is no clear winner.

I suspect the Supreme Court will be more reluctant to be involved this time and I doubt either side will back down. And, if everyone takes a 'wait and see' approach (with the exception of hiring attorneys), I could see this getting really ugly.

Intellectually, I can't understand HOW Kerry wouldn't win by a landslide, however, I've seen the Bush machine in action and they 'ain't no slouches'. So, I doubt he will and am becoming increasingly concerned about what this could mean for the country.

[emulatorloo]

1. Well, take a look at this story from the AP today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=918623&mesg_id=918623

[cosmicvortex20]

2. Technically, the congress can choose the president.

I think I remember my civics, whereas if there are outstanding issues and the states can get it together to definitively pick someone, it goes to the congress.

[Tweed]

4. If it's a tie, the House picks the President

The Senate picks the Vice. We could have a Bush-Kerry administration.

[Nipplemancer]

5. The senate picks the Veep....

But the current Veep gets to cast a tie-breaking vote if needed, I can't really see Cheney voting for Kerry as Bush's Veep.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. I saw an amazing poll result today

Something like 1/3 of respondents don't think we will know the outcome on November 2. Larry King gave a 49% figure. Jonathan Alter, who I normally respect a great deal, said it could be several days.

I understand creative intrigue and cynicism, but overreaction has taken the form of ludicrous projections during this campaign. As a gambler, I would have loved to wager on the norm and collected right and left, so to speak. A hell of a lot easier than figuring out whose going to manage 270 electoral votes.

* None of the debates will be cancelled, or skipped by Bush

* Osama will not be captured and paraded before the election

* There will not be a major terrorist attack prior to the election

* We WILL know the outcome on November 2, likely before midnight eastern. The odds of a state(s) critical to the electoral result being in legitimate dispute are close to nil.