Election Day 2016: Scoreboard
Since I had
already voted, I was going to kick back for the day, pop open a few bottles of
Sam Adams, and watch how everything unfolded. I didn’t have a favorite, as I
didn’t feel strongly about Clinton or Trump. I figured Hilary had bagged it,
but I needed to see about the battleground states and which way Congress went.
Here in the
U.S., the popular vote does count,
although this is the wrong math you should be using, as if Dubya in 2000 wasn’t
evidence enough. The electorate thinks in terms of states, meaning Florida will
go red (Republican) or Ohio will go blue (Democrat).
For the foreign reader who still doesn’t have a clue about how our elections work, let me remind you: I don’t either. But by now, Americans know which state traditionally supports which color. The south is all red, forget it. The richest states—again, I didn’t say I understood this—vote blue, that is for the Democrats. These would be New England states, like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, among others. So let me repeat: the richest states vote for the Democratic—traditionally the working class man’s party—while the poorest states (in the south) vote for the do-it-yourself elitist credo by the Republicans. Makes sense, doesn’t it? As does the fact that you can be elected president without a majority of the popular vote. But more about that later.
To sum it up:
Rural
areas: red. For the foreign reader who still doesn’t have a clue about how our elections work, let me remind you: I don’t either. But by now, Americans know which state traditionally supports which color. The south is all red, forget it. The richest states—again, I didn’t say I understood this—vote blue, that is for the Democrats. These would be New England states, like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, among others. So let me repeat: the richest states vote for the Democratic—traditionally the working class man’s party—while the poorest states (in the south) vote for the do-it-yourself elitist credo by the Republicans. Makes sense, doesn’t it? As does the fact that you can be elected president without a majority of the popular vote. But more about that later.
To sum it up:
Urban
areas: blue
Keep in mind that the Midwest is absolutely crucial here, the purple states, if you will. The west coast will vote blue until they turn the color of the Pacific, especially California and its 55 electoral votes, more than any state. Needless to say, Donald Trump didn’t make the west coast his priority during his campaign. Conversely, Hillary didn’t waste too much time stumping in dark red states like Utah or Alabama.
The ‘battleground states’, really a handful of states, make the difference. Ohio has 18 electoral votes, Pennsylvania 20, and Michigan 16. This is where both parties fight till the end. It was no coincidence that Trump ended his campaign in Michigan. We are talking about 54 electoral votes for three states. California as a state has more, but it is rarely contested between red and blue. The three states in the Mid-West are. The fourth battleground state is Florida with its 29 electoral votes, and the fifth arguably North Carolina. Let’s just name these five states here. IF you win three of these five states, you should be in good shape as the candidate.
Early on, I notice that Trump will take Florida. That, in itself, is nothing unusual. In Ohio, he has a solid lead. That would be two-zero, Trump, in the battleground states.
North Carolina looked close for a while, but would end up going to Trump. Once I saw Trump taking the lead in Michigan, I figured it was over. Four battleground states, four Trump victories. In the end, Pennsylvania went his way as well, which clinched it. All five battleground states go to Trump. Game, set, match. I wish that were the story, instead of the fact that we have another election where the winner loses the popular vote.
President Trump. Okay, then. Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night. It sure was last night.
Keep in mind that the Midwest is absolutely crucial here, the purple states, if you will. The west coast will vote blue until they turn the color of the Pacific, especially California and its 55 electoral votes, more than any state. Needless to say, Donald Trump didn’t make the west coast his priority during his campaign. Conversely, Hillary didn’t waste too much time stumping in dark red states like Utah or Alabama.
The ‘battleground states’, really a handful of states, make the difference. Ohio has 18 electoral votes, Pennsylvania 20, and Michigan 16. This is where both parties fight till the end. It was no coincidence that Trump ended his campaign in Michigan. We are talking about 54 electoral votes for three states. California as a state has more, but it is rarely contested between red and blue. The three states in the Mid-West are. The fourth battleground state is Florida with its 29 electoral votes, and the fifth arguably North Carolina. Let’s just name these five states here. IF you win three of these five states, you should be in good shape as the candidate.
Early on, I notice that Trump will take Florida. That, in itself, is nothing unusual. In Ohio, he has a solid lead. That would be two-zero, Trump, in the battleground states.
North Carolina looked close for a while, but would end up going to Trump. Once I saw Trump taking the lead in Michigan, I figured it was over. Four battleground states, four Trump victories. In the end, Pennsylvania went his way as well, which clinched it. All five battleground states go to Trump. Game, set, match. I wish that were the story, instead of the fact that we have another election where the winner loses the popular vote.
President Trump. Okay, then. Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night. It sure was last night.
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