2012: Romney/Bush v. Obama/Feingold v. Bloomberg/Huntsman

[Del Tachi]

Joe Biden announces that he won’t serve a second term in March 2012.  Obama selects former Senator Russ Feingold for his running mate at the convention in Charlotte.   Romney wins the GOP nomination, Perry proves to be nothing more than a passing fancy.  Jeb Bush takes his VP slot.  In July, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg announces that he will run as an independent.  Bloomberg selects Jon Huntsman as his running mate.  Many left-wing pundits bolt form Obama and endorse the Bloomberg/Huntsman ticket. 

The economy continues to tilt towards recession during the fall/winter of 2011/2012.  Unemployment reaches 10.6% in February 2012 and Obama’s approvals are stuck at around 40%.  The price of oil falls drastically, to under $40 a barrel.  The lower oil costs help to spur consumer confidence in the summer of 2012, and the jobless rate stabilizes at around 8.8%.
 
In Washington, political gridlock has persisted.  After only narrowly avoiding a government shutdown in September 2011, the recommendations of the budget “super committee” are rejected by House Republicans.  Thus, Medicare and defense undergo large cuts.  Polls show that House Republicans are the least popular politicians in the entire country.

So, who wins?  Will the election be thrown into the House?
 
Discuss w/ maps         

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Mass suicide is by far the most tempting option at this point. On the other hand, we are likely to get around 300 Democrats in the House.

[Thomas D]

Romney-263
Obama-246
Bloomberg-29

[Niemeyerite]

Dem 235
Rep 220
Ind 83

[NCeriale]

Obama withers under the Bloomberg challenge, making Romney competitive in Obama states and the heavy favorite in the swing states. He manages to poach a few Dem States:

Romney: 307 (+0/29)
Obama: 202
Bloomberg: 29 (-0/29)