Election Day and Election Night.
DISCLAIMER Just as a gentle reminder!
The events described in this story is totally fiction and are being written free from political bias but may not be 100% accurate. Constructive criticism is always welcome. President Gore, voted absentee two weeks earlier finished the last 48 hours with stops in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Missouri and returns to the White House at 15:30 on election day.
Senator Thompson ended his campaign with a midnight rally in Nashville and voted first thing on election morning. Neither candidate makes comments throughout election afternoon. There are some claims of voting regulates in Ohio and Florida but deemed as minor glitches.
At 19:00, as the first states close their polls, NBC News begins Election Night and Tom Brokaw opens with a stunning announcement
“Good Evening. NBC News is projecting that former Tennessee Senator Fred Dalton Thompson will defeat President Al Gore and become the 44th President of the United States.”
Other networks are not as bold as NBC however FOX News’ Brit Hume does admit “I would bet my house and car that Thompson wins tonight - there’s no way he can lose now.”
The Thompson campaign, in Nashville are silent. President Gore’s campaign team, in the White House proclaim, “The election isn’t over until it is over. We are confident, the President will be re-elected.
However by 1930, clearly Thompson has won some key “swing states” like OH, NH and FL with ease.
Thompson/Cellucci: 126
Gore/Kerry: 3
By 2030 Thompson is inching closing to a victory with Gore struggling.
Thompson/Cellucci: 225
Gore/Kerry: 28
By 2115 - As CBS News Dan Rather puts it: “By now the fat lady is warming up and is about to bust the note out.”
Thompson/Cellucci: 254
Gore/Kerry: 32
At 2142, the state of Michigan is called as Peter Jennings calls it “Sealing the victory for Fred Thompson.”
Thompson/Cellucci: 271
Gore Kerry: 32
Within 10 minutes, all the networks proclaim Fred Dalton Thompson as the 44th President of the United States.
The question is now when will President Gore concede? At 2210, the Gore Campaign staff announced that President Gore did call President-elect Thompson to congratulate him (which the Thompson campaign confirms) but will not give a formal concession until 2300 when the polls close on the West Coast.
At 2315, in the East Room of the White House, President Gore concedes defeat.
At 2345, President-elect Thompson address a huge crowd in Nashville accepting the victory.
By 0530 on 03NOV04, the final result - an electoral punishment for President Gore:
Thompson/Cellucci: 474EV, 67,702,869 (55.36%)
Gore/Kerry: 64EV, 53,076,310 (43.40%)
Others: 0EV, 1,516,466 (1.24%)
Next I will produce a breakdown of each state and how they voted - to the tenth of a percent for Thompson and Gore.
Also - House and Senate results.