[martian_22]

If Toricelli quits inside the 51 day limit with voting(absentee) already in play, does his leaving the election constitute a concession? If so, are the rats allowed to continue?

[Congressman Billybob]

"Concessions" are the traditional way that election contests end. When it is clear to the loser that he/she has lost, it is traditional to call the winner with congratulations, even if he/she wishes the winner would be strucki by lightning and killed on the spot.

But, concessions are meaningless in the law. Witness 2000, when Gore called Bush to concede when he thought he'd lost Florida. Gore called back later when Florida was back in play to "withdraw his concession." This is not like the unofficial rules of street stickball in which there are "no take-backsies."

(New column just up. First link below.)

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Oedipus and the Democrats"

Click for "Til Death Do Us Part."

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[alwaysconservative]

I like that word "concession". Maybe that should be what somebody should be asking Lautenberg: "Wasn't Toricelli's withdrawal DURING the campaign a concession?"

Don't candidates have the RIGHT to concede defeat during an election?