Looking back at the election

Posted: Thursday, November 06, 2008 9:26 AM by Domenico Montanaro

Here's a graphic with the new balance of power in the U.S. Senate, House and governorships.

Here's also a county-by-county graphic of how the country voted.

Social issues didn't figure as prominently in this cycle as in years past, but the results of ballot initiatives on gay marriage and abortion indicate that they remain hot topics that trend towards the conservative in statewide votes.

Carter was the last Democrat to get above 50% in the popular vote. Obama's 52% is the highest since 1964 for Democrat. George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan achieved more of the vote in 84 and 88.

Dean Deluxe? "Nobody is crediting Howard Dean with Barack Obama's historic victory Tuesday night -- certainly not Howard Dean. But a day after Obama remade the electoral map with wins in previously deep-red states like Virginia and Indiana, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee said he does believe Obama's campaign has shown the value of his much-maligned 50-state strategy, especially when the right candidate comes along."

Some key upcoming dates… "Dec. 9: Deadline for states to resolve issues regarding election recounts, controversies, or contests; Dec. 15: Electors meet in their states to cast votes for president and vice president. They are not required by federal law to follow the will of the popular vote in their state; Dec. 24: Deadline for designated officials, such as the president of the Senate and others, to have the electoral votes in hand, though states do not face any legal penalty if they don't comply; Jan. 6, 2009: Congress meets to count the electoral votes. The president and vice president must win a majority of electoral votes, or 270, to be elected. If there is no majority, the House selects the president, and the Senate selects the vice president; Jan. 20: The president-elect is sworn into office.

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Comments

Its a shame that Howard Dean is not give significant credit for putting some mojo back into the party. He started the movement that helped this landslide. Rahm Emanuel and Chuck Schumer fought with him endlessly against putting resources into states like Indiana and Missouri. Dean is vindicated among those who follow this business closely. But, at the end of the day, its Rahmbo who is going to be getting the lucrative position in the administration.

Jak Avramove (Sent Thursday, November 06, 2008 12:33 PM)

I would just like to point out that being gay is in direct violation of the most basic principle of life: survival! The fact that gay couples can not have children puts human existence at risk. I don't feel that being gay should be illegal because I personally don't care what anyone does to himself or herself in private. However, I am totally against gay people acting like there is nothing wrong with being gay because there is something wrong with it; it is a direct threat to human survival. And I don't want these sexually challenged people deceiving my children by telling them that it's ok to be gay.

James Turner, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:56 PM)

ARE YOU GUYS EVEN POSTING COMMENTS TODAY? I realize the election is over, but only 1 comment in 4 1/2 hours this post has been up?

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:57 PM)

I also beleive Howard Dean planted the seed for the use of the internet in Presidential Politics.
Barack Obama's team picked up the ball and ran with it. Great Job!

William Salas (Sent Thursday, November 06, 2008 3:40 PM)

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