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The problem is the voting system. Each contestant has their own number, and the lines are open for a set amount of time. Fans for each can try to vote over and over again. If the lines are open three hours, and there are enough fans for each calling the entire time, the system will only be able to take about the same number of votes for each contestant, regardless of how many fans each one has.

Suppose Clay has 10,000,000 fans and Ruben has 7,500,000 fans (or the other way around -- it doesn't matter). That's enough on either side so that the lines are constantly taking the maximum amount of calls for both, and they're going to end up with roughly the same number of votes.

The only way to find out who really has the most fans (and will therefore sell the most records) and to make it fair is to somehow allow each voter only one vote.

I only managed to get through 2 times last night for Clay, and now I'm going to buy his album. That speaks louder than some call-in contest that only proves how many calls the phone system is able to receive in three hours.

You're analysis is correct, Red. The statistical tie shows that the phone lines were maxed out. It doesn't say anything about the total number of people who were attempting to vote for either contestant.

Oh, well. Record sales will be the greatest vote of all.