# Election Day \[Week\]\[Month\[s\]\] \[Year\] 2020 follow-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 3, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618 "2020-11-03T05:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 132
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2624 "2020-11-05T22:46:35Z")
Give it a few weeks. You will be hard pressed to find a Republican who remembers supporting Trump. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2625 "2020-11-05T22:47:11Z")
Who?.. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2626 "2020-11-05T22:47:22Z")
Nope. Not at all. It is usually the senior member of the majority party. The VP will only get that person installed (if there is a tie the VP needs to break). Otherwise the VP has very little to do in the senate despite a nifty title (president of the Senate). ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2627 "2020-11-05T22:47:35Z")
> [@urbanredneck2](#): > > How about the whole “Walk-away” movement? What “movement”? “#WalkAway” is fundamentally a [made-up astroturfing ploy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign) that only conservatives seem to be gullible enough to believe in. > [@](#): > > The **WalkAway campaign** , also styled **#WalkAway** , is a [social-media campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social-media_campaign) that was launched ahead of the [United States 2018 mid-term elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_midterm_elections) by Brandon Straka, a hairstylist from New York City. […] > > News sources have debated the extent to which WalkAway is an example of [astroturfing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing) rather than a genuine [grassroots movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots_lobbying). David A. Love of [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN)condemned the campaign as “pure propaganda [and] a psychological operation.”[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-8) The website [Hamilton 68](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_68), which tracks [Russia’s interference on U.S. elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2020_United_States_elections), reported that WalkAway was “connected to Kremlin-linked Russian bots to manipulate voters into thinking the movement was more popular and active that it actually was.”[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-:1-9) > > Abby Ohlheiser of _[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post)_ claimed that “[t]here’s little actual evidence to suggest that #WalkAway represents a mass conversion of millions – or even thousands – of Democrats” and contrasted the broad appeal of true [viral videos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_video) with the “Conservative Internet viral” nature of the WalkAway video.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-:0-10) [ThinkProgress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkProgress)characterized the WalkAway campaign as “a grifting operation,” noting efforts by the organizers to sell dinner packages priced in the hundreds of dollars to march attendees.[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-11) […] > > Straka has stated that WalkAway does not receive major donations and that “everything is grassroots support from Americans who send us $5 or $100.”[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-:1-9) As of May 2020, the [Center for Responsive Politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Responsive_Politics) reported that of the $20,104 donated to WalkAway in 2020, $7,521 were contributed by nine large ($200 or more) donors, of which Straka is one.[[14]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign#cite_note-14)[_[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NOTRS)_ ] > > WalkAway received a $10,000 donation from [Alex Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jones) and [InfoWars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InfoWars). ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2628 "2020-11-05T22:48:48Z")
He was the guy who made the covfefe. Really not that important. I only met him once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2629 "2020-11-05T22:48:57Z")
Ticket-splitting cost the Dems several house seats. Biden ran as much as double digits ahead of the democratic congressional district candidate. People who voted for him for president voted republican down-ballot to put a check on him. One of the progressive wing congressional candidates running on Medicare For All, endorsed by Biden, Obama, AOC, Sanders in Nebraska’s second congressional district, lost her race by 5 points. Biden won by 11 points against Trump in the same district. He doesn’t support Medicare For All so what possible reason other than ticket-splitting can cause such a divide? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2630 "2020-11-05T22:49:23Z")
> [@susan](#): > > [NPR.org](https://apps.npr.org/liveblogs/20201103-election/share/trump-sons-bemoan-lack-of-426.html) > > ### [‘Have Some Backbone:’ Trump Sons Slam Silent Party](https://apps.npr.org/liveblogs/20201103-election/share/trump-sons-bemoan-lack-of-426.html) > > But really, why start now? I hate to criticize spelling and grammar (not very good myself) but this is really stupid. If your sheep what, Eric? > Fight against this fraud. Our voters will never forget you if your sheep! ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2631 "2020-11-05T22:50:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Nope. Not at all. It is usually the senior member of the majority party. The VP will only get that person installed (if there is a tie the VP needs to break). Otherwise the VP has very little to do in the senate despite a nifty title (president of the Senate). I’m not wording this right. If the Senate is 50/50, and Harris is VP, will Schumer be called Majority Leader because Harris’ tie-breaking makes Dems the de facto majority? Or since there’s no actual majority or minority do those titles go on hold or something? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2632 "2020-11-05T22:50:40Z")
I just heard in a CNN press conference that 350,000 mail-in ballots remain to be counted in Pennsylvania, and that 4 precincts in Allegheny County have not been tabulated at all; the Secretary of State said she didn’t know why. I’m willing to wait patiently, as long as the results are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2633 "2020-11-05T22:51:37Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > What “movement”? “#WalkAway” is fundamentally a [made-up astroturfing ploy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WalkAway_campaign) that only conservatives seem to be gullible enough to believe in. With Russian help. > **[Tom Atkinson: #WalkAway campaign gets help from Russian trolls](https://www.theunion.com/opinion/letters/tom-atkinson-walkaway-campaign-gets-help-from-russian-trolls/article_02c3bf5b-b649-5ec6-91b6-9b79e66c2865.html)** > > Terry McLaughlin in her column in The Union’s Aug. 2 edition asks that we investigate the Walk Away movement for ourselves to see if it is “… much ado about > **[Don’t be afraid to cast a vote for decency](https://www.redbluffdailynews.com/2020/10/19/dont-be-afraid-to-cast-a-vote-for-decency/)** > > To drive across northern California is to drive across Trumpland. Forget Jefferson, this area has sold its soul to a charlatan from New York. Driving down I-5 to the Sacramento airport the other da… [https://arcdigital.media/pro-trump-russian-linked-twitter-accounts-are-posing-as-ex-democrats-in-new-astroturfed-movement-20359c1906d3](https://arcdigital.media/pro-trump-russian-linked-twitter-accounts-are-posing-as-ex-democrats-in-new-astroturfed-movement-20359c1906d3) And only the “[founder](https://www.ntd.com/walk-away-founder-russian-bot-claim-will-push-people-away-from-democratic-party_216815.html)” and far-right alternate media claim otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2634 "2020-11-05T22:52:49Z")
So still no more information then, basically? _rips hair out_ ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2635 "2020-11-05T22:53:02Z")
Pssst… @urbanredneck2. This is the part where you thank the nice person for the helpful factual information. G’on then… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2636 "2020-11-05T22:54:09Z")
If Biden wins Schumer will most likely be the senate majority leader if dems get enough seats. If needed Harris would break a 50/50 tie to make it so. If it is 49/51 in favor of the republicans (or more) then McConnell will continue as majority leader. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2637 "2020-11-05T22:54:25Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Give it a few weeks. You will be hard pressed to find a Republican who remembers supporting Trump. I’m not so sure. The MAGAs now make up a large part of their base. Pretending to forget the old president, Bush Jr. style, isn’t going to work with Trump because those voters are more loyal to Trump the man than they are to the Republican party. All those votes that made 2020 a closer race in the house compared to 2018? Any Republican politician who pretends they never cared for Trump can kiss those votes goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2638 "2020-11-05T22:54:35Z")
I’ve been playing with extrapolating the numbers in PA: x% of votes counted, leaves y votes to be counted, and how many Trump and Biden would each get if the current ratios (statewide) hold. Then I started grabbing the same figures for the largest counties, and some of the ones that were deepest red, and extrapolated how many additional votes each candidate might get from the to-be-counted ballots, assuming their ratios also continue to hold. With 16 counties (out of 100, I think), Trump would get an additional 170,000 while Biden would get an additional 240,000. My home county (I’m from PA) went blue but is completely surrounded by red - which surprises me as the culture is pretty similar all around the area: Dauphin County includes Harrisburg, but people commute all around the area. Though I really shouldn’t be that surprised: two of the most jaw-droppingly “I refuse to think” encounters I’ve ever had with Chump-fans were from high school classmates: 1. Person from my neighborhood pronounced on Facebook that hospitals were deliberately diagnosing patients with COVID because it got them more money (false, based on a wackjob statement, explained by a more rational person who talked about Medicare reimbursement groups). I found cites. She said “I don’t care. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire”. 2. Right after the last election, a fellow said he voted for Trump because Hilary put up with her husband’s philandering because he didn’t want his daughters to grow up thinking they should let their husbands treat them like that. Um… so instead, he voted for the philanderer, who was ON RECORD as saying he was allowed to grope women because he was rich. ??? Cleopatra wants her river back. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2639 "2020-11-05T22:54:55Z")
Yes, the party leader is called the Majority Leader even if his party only holds 50 seats. In 2007, the Democrats had the majority, even though there were only 49 Democrats + 2 Independents. Harry Reid was the Majority Leader. In 2001, the Senate was 50-50 from January until June, and since Bush was the president, Strom Thurmond /(R/) was Majority Leader. Then Jim Jeffords switched from Republican to Independent – caucusing with the D’s – and the “majority” switched. Robert Byrd (D) became Majority Leader. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2640 "2020-11-05T22:55:11Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If Biden wins Schumer will most likely be the majority leader. If needed Harris would break a 50/50 tie to make it so. Thank you! (_ends silly tangent_) ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2641 "2020-11-05T22:55:51Z")
Yeah, they’re going to have to walk a tightrope here. Basically, nobody is going to be rooting for heart disease to work its magic more than the Republican party with Trump outside their tent pissing in. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2642 "2020-11-05T22:58:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Read this. Curious if it changes your mind: > > [I’m Here To Remind You That Trump Can Still Win](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/im-here-to-remind-you-that-trump-can-still-win/) It seems to me that people who complain about Nate Silver generally don’t know what he says or how he does what he does. He is incredibly cautious in interpreting the polls. He is transparent about where and how his models could go wrong, and then publishes where and how they did go wrong. If people want to complain about polling or punditry in general, please go ahead. Just pick someone else as your example. It’s like people who complained about Hillary pushing gay marriage and abortion, not realizing she mostly talked about jobs, jobs, and jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Mdm.President](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@Mdm.President](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdm.President)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618/2643 "2020-11-05T22:58:27Z")
I always learn so much when urbanredneck posts because all the people that know what they’re talking about come, with receipts, to correct them. I hope they never get so tired of being wrong that they stop posting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=131) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-day-week-month-s-year-2020-follow-along-thread/924618.md?page=133)