Map of Electoral College
As a fan of population density, I'm always fascinated by how some electoral maps in the United States "look" big because they include large low-density plots of land. So I got to wondering, what's the geographically smallest possible winning map.
The answer you'll find above. I started with a list of states in order of population density. So you have DC, then New Jersey, then Rhode Island, then Massachusetts, and so forth. Eventually you get a set that wins you the electoral college. Except the bloc of the 18 densest states gives you 282 electoral votes—way more than you need. Eliminate Michigan, the 18th densest, and you have 266 electoral votes. So then you can round things out with little New Hampshire's four electoral votes and you have your winning map.
You might also like
Popular Q&A
Your Electoral College Predictions? | Yahoo Answers
Take the 2004 map. Shift Iowa to Obama because of the ethanol vote. Done. Obama 263, McCain 275.
The only battleground states with any chance to flip vs. 2004 are Colorado and Nevada because of the Latino vote. Nevada alone won't do it for Obama, although Colorado will.
It's sad, but I've come to the conclusion that the country is so polarized that the Republicans could run Larry the Cable Guy and the Democrats could run Bill Maher and the election would turn out exactly the same way.
Hey Dave Holman, you have 10 votes more than you should. Did states 51-57 go for McCain even though …
