Good Morning Omaha!
Obama Picks Up Another Electoral Vote
Nebraska is one of the two states (along with Maine) that awards one electoral vote for each congressional district carried plus two for the statewide winner. It now appears that Obama won NE-2 (Omaha) and picks up another electoral vote. This is the first time in history that either state has split its EVs. The mapping software wasn’t set up to color in Omaha separately, so the state will be marked in purple to indicate the red+blue split.
Nebraska Republicans have reacted to this development with dismay and intend to introduce legislation in 2009 to go to a winner-take-all system like 48 other states.
Omaha? Thank you good people. Must be the Hagel effect and independent thinking. Hagel’s courage in admitting his mistake to vote to give Bush authority to invade Iraq has ensured him a short career as a GOP tool, but reveals him as a true Maverick. Clearly, his Cosmopolitan Cornhusker Constituency has wisely endorsed independence at the ballot box.
Of course “Nebraska Republicans have reacted to this development with dismay and intend to introduce legislation in 2009 to go to a winner-take-all system like 48 other states.” And with a majority, they will probably be successful. Worth noting: many states (38?) have mechanisms in place, if they chose to enact them prior to an election, to supersede as state law, the E. College system. They aren’t, in the majority, Red States so be careful how you play it. Once it goes, popular vote, here we come.
Comment by June — November 11, 2008 @ 8:46 am