# Arafat's health and the U.S. Election

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-health-and-the-u-s-election/271545>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 27, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-health-and-the-u-s-election/271545 "2004-10-27T21:52:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-health-and-the-u-s-election/271545/1 "2004-10-27T21:52:40Z")

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Apparently Yasser Arafat is [quite ill](http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/27/arafat.health/index.html). If he were to die before November 2nd, what effect, if any, do you think his death would have on the U.S. presidential election?

I would offer my opinion first, but I can’t think of a reason his death would shift votes one way or the other, though I have a feeling it would. That’s why I’m asking all of you.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-health-and-the-u-s-election/271545/2 "2004-10-28T02:04:10Z")

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I don’t think Arafat’s death per se would have any impact. The fall out from it could, however, if a wave of violence ensues upon his demise. If widespread terrorist attacks were to follow his passing it could help Bush just a little bit by reminding people that he is the “hero” of the “war on terror.” Only a tiny number of people would be swayed by such feelings, but in this election that could be meaningful. Without terrible violence, however, I doubt we’ll see any impact.