The Spectator

A Golden Opportunity for the GOP

A ballot initiative in California could have more impact on the 2008 presidential race than any of the back and forth that is going on between the candidates at present. Currently California gives all its presidential votes—and it has more of them than any other state, 55 of the 270 you needs to be elected president—to which ever candidate gets the most votes. This is good news for the Democrats as California is a solidly blue state. However, this ballot initiative would dish out California’s voters by Congressional district—giving the Republicans around 20 or so of its electoral votes, that’s equivalent to winning a state like Pennsylvania, Illinois or Ohio.

If this measure passes in June 2008, it’s a lot easier to game out how the Republicans could hang onto the White House. Add this to how the match ups between the top candidates look and you have to think that the Republicans’ chances in 2008 are much better than people realise.

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