# Al's gonna pull it out at the last minute **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 7, 2000, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086 "2000-11-07T07:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/81 "2000-11-08T03:15:16Z")
CRUEL? This is FUN! It’s the best spectator sport in the world. It’s like being at a hockey game with one minute left and your team down by a goal. It’s nerve-wracking, but in a good kind of way. I much prefer this to the elections we have in Canada, which are typically decided in the East before they even count the votes in the west. As I write this, Bush is sweeping the midwest. If he takes Florida, it’s all over. If he doesn’t, he’s still a big underdog but gaining ground. Looking at the electoral map, I think it’ll be interesting if Gore wins. The political division in the U.S. stands out like crazy looking at this, because Gore’s main support comes from a handful of very populous states. Bush could win 35 out of 50 states, win the popular vote by 8 or 9 points, and still lose the election. What will that do to Gore’s ability to govern, or to political stability in general in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/82 "2000-11-08T03:16:07Z")
Ps- if your polls have not closed, and you have not yet voted- what are you waiting for? “Vote, dammit, it’s your duty” (to paraphrase John Adams). ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/83 "2000-11-08T03:20:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danielinthewolvesden \* > \*\*Newest news flash: Gore is ahead, and in order for Bush to win, he has to (either) win every single 'swing" state,OR, pull CA out of his ass. Gore now has PA & FLA. It is still very close, and Bush looks to win the popular vote. \*\* Sez who, Daniel? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/84 "2000-11-08T03:41:04Z")
If Bush gets Florida, it isn’t a lock, but it’s close to it: he’d need CO, AZ, and NV, but those lean toward the GOP. And if he loses one of those, but gets IA, WI, or OR, same difference. So if Bush gets FL, the odds are definitely against Gore. But if FL goes back to Gore after all, then Bush has to run the table to win, unless CA falls his way. Meanwhile, they’re separated by about 700K votes in the popular vote, with Bush at 23M and Gore at 22.3M. Nah, this is tougher than a Super Bowl or a World Series. In sports, if your team loses, it’s a bummer, but the world is still the same. Not here. ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/85 "2000-11-08T03:41:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Stoidela > I just need to say that I am a fucking wreck. I HATE THIS!!! > > And I can’t tear myself away… Like my staring at it obsessively is going to make a difference. This is CRUEL. > \*\* This may be the only thing we have in common. Want to hang the press guy who decided to call FL, and then bring it back to undecided? As I sit here waiting for it to finally settle down to one candidate, I just want to kill whoever made that decision. One of the talking heads actually said, “we may need actual votes to see who wins this race.” duh… ---
**Author:** ![blastfurnace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@blastfurnace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blastfurnace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/86 "2000-11-08T03:58:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe\_Cool \* > \*\*Give it a rest, already. For cryin’ out loud, Ted Kennedy _ **DID** _ kill somebody while driving drunk, and he’s a perpetual fixture in politics. > \*\* Let me look…wait, I guess I DIDN’T say I supported Kennedy! Nor, looking back at my posts, did I say I condoned this action from anyone! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/87 "2000-11-08T04:08:15Z")
Here in Canada, it would be a mini scandal if the press called provincial election while the polls were still open, but that’s what they did in Florida. They called Florida for Gore one hour before the polls closed in the earlier time zone in the state. That could well have kept many voters home. If Florida goes one way or the other by a very small margin, it’s entirely possible that an early call by the media decided the election. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/88 "2000-11-08T04:09:25Z")
Freedom2, what network was that on? That quote is classic! Is there any way you can find a link? Any guesses on when FL will be certain? ---
**Author:** ![blastfurnace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@blastfurnace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blastfurnace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/89 "2000-11-08T04:09:55Z")
I agree with ya, Sam. I’m not sure WHAT they were thinking. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/90 "2000-11-08T04:51:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > They called Florida for Gore one hour before the polls closed in the earlier time zone in the state. That could well have kept many voters home. > > If Florida goes one way or the other by a very small margin, it’s entirely possible that an early call by the media decided the election. Does anyone know for a fact when they actually called Florida for Gore? People seem to be implying they called it right when the polls closed, but as of 7:15pm when I went off to yoga, NPR was saying that Florida was too close to call. It wasn’t until after 9pm after I got out of yoga that I heard it was in the Gore column. So, it all that I know is it was called somewhere between 45 min before the polls apparently closed in the western part and 1 hour after. ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/91 "2000-11-08T05:08:42Z")
I will be up forever. The whole race hinges on FL right now. Then when the vote is counted, there are still 500,000 absentee ballots to count. Does anyone know if these are included in the current totals, or if they get counted tomorrow? Unless of course they reverse calls in other states. (PA, MI) Connor I’m sorry, but my brain is fried. I have been clicking the remote like a possesed madman. I don’t remember which head said it, and I have no link because it was on TV. I do remember that it was a guy. About St. Louis: They only left polls open in the city. The state looks like it is going to Bush. However, the Senate race is a toss-up. About FL: I don’t think they called it at 7:10. I rushed over to a friends house because I was sure FL was going to be called within minutes of the hour. I would guess that it was called closer to 7:30-45. I don’t know if it effected FL results, but since Gore winning FL kept in the race, it may have effected west coast voters. Many west coasters may have changed their vote from Nader to Gore since the race was so tight. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/92 "2000-11-08T05:14:23Z")
They’re saying now that the western part of Florida had much more Bush support than the East. That would mean an early call would have hurt Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/93 "2000-11-08T05:18:26Z")
Great! So we’ve ruled out Katie Couric… Did anyone know that Nevada has a “None of the above” option?!? ::moving to Vegas:: ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/94 "2000-11-08T05:40:17Z")
The vote is all going to come down to Florida, and the sick thing is we may not be sure for several days what the absentee vote really is. At the very least, I hope the American people can realize how close we really are, regardless of the side of the ideological fence. Hopefully, we can support whomever the new president finally turns out to be, without animosity. Unlike the last 8 years. Well, I can always hope. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/95 "2000-11-08T05:43:39Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Freedom2 \* \*\* > [@](#): > > One of the talking heads actually said, “we may need actual votes to see who wins this race.” > duh… \*\* Surpising comment from a guy who took bets on Bush winning in a **landslide** You didn’t think I was gonna let you _forget_ your hubris, did you? Silly man - everybody knows that gloating is tres unattractive. stoid ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/96 "2000-11-08T06:41:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Freedom2 \* > \*\*I will be up forever. The whole race hinges on FL right now. Then when the vote is counted, there are still 500,000 absentee ballots to count. Does anyone know if these are included in the current totals, or if they get counted tomorrow? Unless of course they reverse calls in other states. (PA, MI) \*\* The way I understand it, the absentee ballots are being counted along with the poll ballots, _except_ for the absentee ballots coming in from FL residents who are stationed (military) out of state. Those only have to be postmarked by today (well, yesterday, now). So it may be some time before it all gets sorted out. Those votes would no doubt favor Bush. The real interesting thing about FL (and AZ) is that the senior vote went to Bush about 60-40. It doesn’t look like Gore’s demagoguing (sp?) on SS and medicare took hold. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/97 "2000-11-08T07:27:13Z")
A squeaker, but I’ll take it! 🙂 Stoidela, I started a thread for you in MPSIMS. That way you can have your breakdown right here on the boards, amongst your friends! Of course, if you’d rather come unglued in the pit, I’d understand. ---
**Author:** ![TNTruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@TNTruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNTruth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/98 "2000-11-08T07:30:30Z")
Well, MSNBC just gave the election to Bush by projecting he’ll win Florida. With 96% of the Florida precincts reporting, Bush leads by less than 20,000 votes out of over 5.5 million cast. No matter who eventually wins, I hope I never hear another person say, ”My vote doesn’t matter.” ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/99 "2000-11-08T07:32:48Z")
I still cannot believe it. So close, so close. And Gore is going to ask for a recount. (But from what the news says, recounts rarely make that much of a difference…) But still, I understand why Gore would want a recount. Has this been a rocky night or what?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Zor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/848f3c/32.png) [@Zor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zor)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2000, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086/100 "2000-11-08T07:35:42Z")
:::sigh::: I was hoping Al would get Florida and grab the presidency while Bush wins the popular vote. With the Republicans controlling the congress and senate, we might get to change our voting system with all the whining going on… too bad… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/als-gonna-pull-it-out-at-the-last-minute/40086.md?page=6)