From the vaults (aka mind) of a friend's political junkie of a Father in regards to the possibility of an electorate tie:
(Cross Posted from Daily Shocker)
If you look at the state-by-state charts carefully, you will find that the possibility of a 269-269 tie is quite strong. Like, Obama wins Kerry states + (CO and IA and NM) but loses NH, or Obama wins Gore states + CO. See 12th Amendment.
Here's what happens: States get one vote each from their congressional delegation. Currently, Dems have 26 state majorities, Reps have 22, and there are 2 ties. A majority is required (26), so anything other than a straight party vote leads to a deadlock, probably irresolvable.
So, if it is not resolved by March 4, the VP becomes the President. Who is that? Well, the Senate meets, and under the current Senate Leiberman will vote with the Reps, and Cheney will break the tie, and it's Palin. Barring breaking of the House deadlock, she becomes President March 4.
Dems will not let that happen, so they refuse to allow a quorum to seat for the Senate vote (34 stay away) until after the new Senate is seated in January. Then, a new Senate will have a stronger majority, and they will elect Biden. The only choice Rep Senators would have would be to refuse (34 of them) to show up for the Senate ever, so that the vote could not take place under the quorum rule. This is unlikely to maintain for long, and is a true constitutional crisis. So, they acquiese and show up, and Biden is elected VP, and in March becomes President. Then, most likely, he picks Obama for VP.
Cool, huh?
So there will be no pampering of a lucky beer drinking American in the beltway? No hilarity will ensue? Come on, this is America. As far as I'm concerned, since the Republican VP pick was announced, this whole thing has been a big-ass David Zucker movie anyways.
In fact, the above hypothesis isn't even close to the totality of it all. You have to include all the lawsuits, counter-suits, injunctions, influence peddling, and back-room politics that will go down.
The chances are 1 in a 100, but I'd double down on it just for the amusement of watching it all go down.
What will happen to the talking heads in the event of a tie?
* Karl Rove will mysteriously disappear from Fox News during the litigation
* Keith Olbermann's head will explode
* John King's magic wall will fall on him, killing him in a tragic accident on live television
* Chris Matthews hair will finally go white
* Rachel Maddow will comment on the ridiculousness of the situation and give a funny look to the camera
* Bill O'Reilly will send his producers off to key the cars of the Dems lawyers
* Greta Van Sustren and Nancy Grace will speculate on the harm this tie is doing to missing toddlers