Posted on 10/21/2004 2:03:38 PM PDT by crushelits
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - If President Bush (news - web sites) wins West Virginia, one of the state's five Republican electors says he might not vote for Bush to protest the president's economic and foreign policies.
South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb said based on his research, an elector has "qualified discretion" when it comes to casting a vote.
"There is an implied duty to vote for your party's candidate. But I don't think it's an explicit duty or responsibility," said Robb, a moderate Republican who has a reputation of being a maverick in the state party.
Still, Robb calls it "highly unlikely" that he would cast a vote for Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites). He said he might cast his vote for Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) or another Republican instead as a protest against Bush, meaning the president would lose out on one electoral vote.
Robb's decision could end up having enormous national significance because the presidential election is expected to go down to the wire. That is exactly what happened in 2000, when George W. Bush won the White House with 271 electoral votes. To win the presidency, a candidate must receive 270 electoral votes.
"There are people talking about a tied race," said Larry Sabato, a political scientist with the University of Virginia. "This one man could change the election result, could negate the vote of 115 million Americans."
Robb's dissatisfaction with Bush stems from the president's decision to invade Iraq (news - web sites) and economic policies he says have caused the loss of nearly 1,000 high-paying chemical and manufacturing jobs in his town of about 13,000 residents. Robb has been mayor of the Charleston suburb since 1975.
A veteran who won a Bronze Star in the Vietnam War, Robb said he also is upset with campaign ads that attacked Kerry's war record.
State GOP Chairman Kris Warner said he is not worried about how Robb will vote if West Virginia again goes for the president. Bush won the 2-to-1 Democrat state in 2000 by 6 percentage points, making him the first Republican presidential candidate who was not an incumbent to take the state in more than 70 years.
"I maintain Mayor Robb will carry out the will of the West Virginia people when it becomes clear and decisive President Bush has carried the state," Warner said. Recent polls show the race is too close too call.
Robb said he objects to criticism from some who say he is a "faithless" elector. He said he views himself as a "principled elector" because he is discussing his qualms about Bush before the election.
"There have been a few people who have been downright hateful. I think that is just the nature of this election, which has been hateful," Robb said. "I won't be intimidated by the mean-spirited attacks."
Only 10 electors in history have gone against the popular vote, including one from West Virginia.
Margarette Leach of Huntington declined to vote for Michael Dukakis in 1988 even though Dukakis carried West Virginia. Leach cast her presidential vote for Dukakis' running mate, Lloyd Bentsen.
All ready post today and is a repeat of a thread from a month ago
Who picks the idiiots?
Dupe. But don't worry about it. As long as he doesn't switch to Kerry it won't have any effect...
If it finishes 269-269 he votes for someone else then it becomes 269-268 and the House gives it to Bush... If it ends 270-268 for Bush and he gives his vote to Cheney or whatever, it ends 269-268 Bush and the House STILL gives it to W... No worries.
How did this kook become one of the state's five Republican electors?
It probably won't happen. Remember 4 years ago and all the threats, bribes, etc, from Beckel and many of the electors saying they might switch votes. They didn't. They are strong members of their parties or they wouldn't be in that position.
Here's the kicker. If the Senate goes democrat, the Breck Girl could be the new Veep if Congress picks. The Senate picks the Veep in the case of an Electoral College no decision.
If it finishes 269-269 he votes for someone else then it becomes 269-268 and the House gives it to Bush... If it ends 270-268 for Bush and he gives his vote to Cheney or whatever, it ends 269-268 Bush and the House STILL gives it to W... No worries.>>>
What? If it finishes 269-269 and one Bush elector leaves and votes for his cat it Becomes 268-269-Kerry wins not 269-268 and Bush wins.
How much is this going to cost the DNC.
If my representative pulled this sort of crap, I would seriously start a recall petition to remind him who is supposedly representing.
What? If it finishes 269-269 and one Bush elector leaves and votes for his cat it Becomes 268-269-Kerry wins not 269-268 and Bush wins.
Look, Congress decides in any scenario where someone doesn't get to 270... It could be split 250 - 100 - 200 or whatever and Congress would decide...
To keep Congress from deciding someone needs to get to 270. Otherwise the House decides. Period. So whether Kerry is up 269-268 or Bush is up 269-268 is irrelevant. The House decides and gives it to Bush...
This story is at least a month old.
He is just trying to get a sense of importance. How? By attempting to make a statement during an election.
Such an idiot. What about making a statement by writing a letter to the president.
I just hope that day never comes. I hope whoever(better be Bush) wins this election wins it handily. I think the dims are willing to start there socialist uprising if its close and the dims spread there usual lies. I wouldnt be surprised if a few terrorists are waiting until election day or the next day to attack us also, depending on the mood of the nation if it looks like we are about to tear ourselves apart.
There was a possibility that Lieberman could've been W's Veep if there was no decision. 50-50 Senate with Gore as the tie breaker.
How did this piece of human excrement get selected to be an elector in the first place?
Did the W.V. GOP F*** up this bad?
Maybe the citizens of the city who elected the Mayor should be contacting him and giving them a piece of their minds.
IOW, his :15 is already up??
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