[TigersEye]

0bama’s exact vote total was 69,456,897.

You can't even get that fact straight. It was 66,862,039.

[counterpunch]

That wasn't the final vote count.
You are using a partial count from CNN on election night, prior to all the absentees being counted and such.

Here is the final vote count for both candidates.
 

[floridagopvoter]

“You can’t even get that fact straight. It was 66,862,039.”

Your NY Times graphic showed the status well before all votes were tallied. Vote counting for both sides went on for a couple months after the election. The official and final result can be seen here:

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2008&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0

70 Million vs. 60 Million is almost exactly accurate. Although I agree with you that 10 Million difference out of 130 Million still means that a ton of people punched the GOP ticket.

I disagree with counterpunch that the fact that 10 Million less people voted for the combination of McCain and Palin proves that Palin has no chance. People were excited about Obama and came out for “change.” Things indeed change, and for the incumbent not always for the better. The economy will be laid at Obama’s feet by 2011 at the latest. With the logic applied by counterpunch no politician who ever lost as part of a ticket should come back to try again 2 or 4 or 6 years later, with circumstances perhaps more favorable.