So here I am looking at the CNN Electoral College map where they show Gore leading in 12 states (181 Electoral votes) and Bush leading in 26 states (224 electoral votes), with 12 states designated as tossup states (133 votes).
Doesn’t that seem to indicate that Bush would be the heavy favorite? I know Fla. is a big chunk of votes, but even so, is the race really as close as the newscasters would have us believe, or are they hoping to drive up their ratings by telling everyone the race is “the closest in four decades”, “a dead heat” etc.?
BTW, I voted first thing this morning in Illinois and the polls were PACKED, which was good to see no matter what the outcome.
The polls are almost always the most crowded in the morning as that’s when most people vote.
If you went to your polling place around 3 pm, you could probably walk right in.
As for how close the election is, who knows?
I know.
So, how close is it? Razor-thin, paper-thin, gold leaf-thin, or is it bigger than that. I need some more metaphors.
And we believe everything CNN says?
As for polls, I didn’t participate in any polls this year to pick the president and I voted today. That represents to me that plenty of people like me were not included in CNN’s poll, and there are likely to be some problems with CNN’s numbers.
Bush is the heavy favorite but Gore could still get elected if several things go his way. The race is not quite as tight as the media would like you to believe. They are trying to build up the suspense so you will watch their programs and read their newspaper. The race is probably within 5 points which would make it the closest since 1968.
the candidate that wins Florida.
That’s how close this election is.
oh, Now I know why they were beating medicine for seniors into the ground to China. 
Actually, Michigan, Penna, and Florida are the big toss-ups. If Bush wins two of those, he wins.
The closeness, to answer the OP, is not in the counting of electoral votes, but rather in the closeness of the individual races. There are large errors in small polls, and a poll that says Bush is ahead by 1%, but has a 3.5% margin of error, is utterly useless. That’s what many of these toss-up states look like.
Bush is not the heavy favorite. One might go so far as to say “barely favored” right now. Wait until 8:00, when the polls close in Florida and Pennsylvania. If they’re split, it’ll be an interesting race.
And more interestingly, they could yet tie. I’d like to see that happen. <EG>
LL
Florida closes at 7 PM EST, so we’ll get an early inkling. It’s about 48% Gore, 45% Bush right now in FL, and slightly more Gore-ish in Penn at the moment. They show Gore with what I consider a surprising amount of votes in northern FL. Now FL is coming down mostly to the I4 corridor.
As I type, voter.com is projecting Penn. and Mich. to Gore, so the projected electoral count stands at 232 for Bush and 230 for Gore with 76 votes up for grabs. Sit back and enjoy the ride…
I’m betting Gore will take this state, PA. Philadelphia is almost 100 percent for Gore, and here in Pittsburgh, it’s a pretty Democratic city.
Ahem I posted this at 2.37pm EST yesterday.
Anyone wanna know who’s going to win the Superbowl?
You kick ass, Montfort. I think the results answered the OP. Within 200,000 (0.2%) in the popular vote, and coming down to a recount, with the current lead for Bush in FL at 1785 votes, or 0.03% of the Florida vote (that’s 3 HUNDREDTHS of a Percent…not 3%), I think this is possibly the closest election in American history.
I think it’s kind of scary that the margin that’s going to decide the presidential election is 3 times smaller than the margin that decided the county judge’s race in Tompkins Cty NY. (Pop 90,000). That’s in number of votes, of course. After the recount, the margin could be larger, or it could be considerably smaller. Folks, this could come down to 20 or 30 votes…for either candidate. What a ride.
Jman
Indeed, Montfort, you do kick major ass, man. I’d love to hear your Super Bowl picks. 
LL
Then, how come you didn’t know about this!
::dramatic wave of cape::
Ballot Box Found Ta-da!
It was found at a church. “I shook it. It was full, and it was very heavy,” Francis added.
“Buchanan described his congregation and the neighborhood as being largely African-American and West Indian. He claimed most residents are registered Democrats.”
Because you didn’t ask me?
And, LazarusLong42, I think it’ll be Tennessee, but I’m going to unequivocably state that the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES are going to win the Super Bowl. (Just don’t ask me which year.)