Packers Win -- Kerry's In; Defeat of Redskins Historically Forecasts Bush Loss on Election Day
10/31/2004 4:36:00 PM
To: National Desk, Political Reporter
Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800
GREEN BAY, Wis., Oct. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Wisconsin supporters of John Kerry and John Edwards had an extra reason to cheer the Packers victory over the Redskins today: over the past 17 presidential elections, the outcome of the Redskins' final home game has determined the outcome of the election. According to history, if the Redskins win, the incumbent president remains in office. If they lose, the challenger wins.
"I couldn't be more thrilled with the Packers win today," Kerry said. "This streak started with Herbert Hoover, and will continue this week when George Bush, the only president since Hoover to lose jobs, loses his. When the Redskins get beat before the election, the incumbent loses. The Packers have done their part, this Tuesday, we'll do ours."
Important historical note: The historical precedent began in 1932 when the now-Washington Redskins were known as the Boston Braves. The Sunday before the election, the Braves did not win and Herbert Hoover, the last American president (before George Bush), to lose jobs over the course of his administration was defeated by FDR.
The Kerry-Edwards ticket heads into the final stretch of the campaign riding a wave of momentum. On Thursday, Kerry was joined by Bruce Springsteen and over 80,000 other supporters in Madison for the largest political rally in state history. Recent polling shows Kerry in a strong position as Election Day approaches, with the latest Zogby Wisconsin daily tracking poll giving Kerry an eight-point lead over Bush. One week ago, Kerry trailed in the Zogby tracking poll by three points.
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Washington Redskins vs. The President
How the Washington Redskins franchise fared the game before presidential elections, and the elections' outcomes:
2000: Tennessee 27, Redskins 21... Democrats lose White House (George W. Bush defeats Al Gore)
1996: Redskins 31, Indianapolis 16... Democrats keep it (Bill Clinton defeats Bob Dole)
1992: New York Giants 24, Redskins 7... Republicans lose it (Clinton defeats George H.W. Bush)
1988: Redskins 27, New Orleans 24... Republicans keep it (Bush defeats Michael Dukakis)
1984: Redskins 27, Atlanta 14... Republicans keep it (Ronald Reagan defeats Walter Mondale)
1980: Minnesota 39, Redskins 14... Democrats lose it (Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter)
1976: Dallas 20, Redskins 7... Republicans lose it (Carter defeats Gerald Ford)
1972: Redskins 35, New York Jets 17... Republicans keep it (Richard Nixon defeats George McGovern)
1968: Minnesota 27, Redskins 13... Democrats lose it (Nixon defeats Hubert Humphrey)
1964: Redskins 21, Philadelphia 10... Democrats keep it (Lyndon Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater)
1960: Cleveland 31, Redskins 10... Republicans lose it (John Kennedy defeats Nixon)
1956: Redskins 17, Chicago Cardinals 14... Republicans keep it (Dwight Eisenhower defeats Adlai Stevenson)
1952: Pittsburgh 24, Redskins 23... Democrats lose it (Eisenhower defeats Stevenson)
1948: Redskins 51, Boston Yanks 21... Democrats keep it (Harry Truman defeats Thomas Dewey)
1944: Redskins 42, Chi-Pitt 20... Democrats keep it (Franklin Roosevelt defeats Dewey)
1940: Washington Redskins 37, Pittsburgh 10... Democrats keep it (Roosevelt defeats Wendell Willkie)
1936: Boston Redskins 13, Chicago Cardinals 10... Democrats keep it (Roosevelt defeats Alfred Landon)
1932: Boston Braves 7, Chicago Bears 7... Republicans lose it (Roosevelt defeats Herbert Hoover)
I notice that in none of those previous Redskins home games did they play the Packers. No way that God ruins His Sunday afternoon to keep the streak alive ...