Pundits Brace for Strange Twists in Election by Caren Bohan, Reuters, MaconDaily.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Strange twists may lie ahead in an already suspenseful presidential race: a disputed ballot count, an inconclusive vote ultimately resolved by lawmakers or even a sentiment-shifting capture of Osama bin Laden are just a few possibilities and bizarre twists.
RE-RUN OF 2000 RECOUNT SAGA
...While states have poured money into voting technology, some are suspicious of the new systems which lack a track record. Lawyers have descended on swing states like Florida to scour procedures and be on hand should grounds for dispute arise.
"We're clearly not rid of the potential for snafus happening and something similar to what occurred in 2000 happened again this," said political scientist Arthur Miller of the University of Iowa.
POPULAR VOTE AT ODDS WITH ELECTORAL COLLEGE
A popular-vote win by Kerry combined with an electoral-college loss would prompt new concerns about representational voting. Democrats would be outraged about losing the presidency twice in a row because of it.
But Miller predicted the outcry would be much more muted if Bush won the popular vote and lost the electoral-college vote, since both sides would have suffered the impact of the system.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE TIE
The 538 electoral votes that are up for grabs could split evenly. Under the Constitution, the race would then be thrown into the House of Representatives, which would almost surely favor Bush given Republican dominance in the chamber.
SENTIMENT-SHIFTING EVENT
The 11th-hour capture of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden or a dire event such as a terror attack could alter the race if it occurs anytime within the next [two weeks].
...These types of events could cut both ways. For example, Osama's capture could fuel a rally around the flag with a surge toward Bush, or it could even help Kerry by feeding conspiracy theories that the administration was timing his capture to tilt the race.
A terror attack could spur a rally toward Bush or might steer voters toward Kerry if voters felt Bush had not done enough to secure the homeland.
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