[Melas]

Hmmm, I don't agree with your criteria for mandate. What you say makes sense if you accept your parameters, but I don't.

[Fatalis]

If you only go with an arithmetic calculation, 51% and 286 Electoral Votes alone won't get you a mandate. The standard has to be a campaign with ideological clarity. That is what Bush had, and that is what gives his victory a mandate.