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I'd love to wager with you, because I play the odds. However, your meager attempt to try to back up your weak claims does not relate to our discussion. If you can come up with a way to prove in November that Bush cannot [nobody has used the words "will" or "will not"- it's all about the realm of what's possible] win without MO, then by all means I'll put up some money.

Now Coop - I am the one who said originally....that if you were just playing the advocate (to Courage) for the purpose of playing the advocate....that was one thing - But if you were seriously trying to suggest that GWB will win without MO - that is complete different thing - (and I made that point clear) -

So again, I will make the statement - if GWB does not win MO he will not win in NOV - All those who are following the this race with the least bit of intellectually honest will say as much - If MO were to go Kerry - well then whatever "winds" that would cause Missourians to push toward a Kerry Presidency (and away from GWB) would most likely (almost certainly) cause a shift throughout the Midwest as well - (again, simple history tells us this - in fact Dales as a whole segment on this within his site) -

Courage was never suggesting "mathematically" it was impossible for GWB to win without MO - he was just trying to have an intellectually honest discussion without have to give an * at the end of each statement -

And his words ring by far more accurate then yours -

Courage says - GWB needs MO if he plans to win in NOV -

Coop you say - GWB does not need MO and he'll still win in NOV -

If GWB doesn't carry MO - he won't win - Now there is nothing wrong with acknowledging this fact - that doesn't make one a pessimist ....

Again, you've completely missed the point. I did not say "will."

COURAGE: but Bush must take Mo.

Coop: No, he mustn't.

See? It's really quite simple. Bush does not need MO to win. Will I be worried as heck if he loses MO on Election Night? You bet. But I'm just weary of all these "Bush has to win [xxxx] or he loses the election!" proclamations. OH has been the favorite "terminal" state this year, followed by FL. So at least now we've got some variety with MO. And then we have a lot of folks giving us the "must win two of these three" - usually FL and the Midwest states.

Maybe I'll start posting "Kerry must win Rhode Island!" everywhere.

Meanwhile I'm looking at the electoral map from 2000 and today, looking at polling numbers, fundraising, etc. President Bush has many more options than John F'in Kerry does.