The Razor’s Edge
As the 2000 election showed, the balance of power in America rests on a razor’s edge. A few votes here, a state or two there, and everything changes. A highly motivated, well-organized force (like union members) can make a huge difference in the political climate of today.
How closely divided is America? Look at these numbers from political writer Michael Barone. Bill Clinton was elected with 49.2% of the vote in 1996.
Republicans kept control of the House that year by a 48.9% to 48.5% margin and, two years later, by a margin of 48.9% to 47.8%.
In 2000, George W. Bush was elected with 47.9% of the vote against Al Gore’s 48.4%, and the Republicans held the House by a margin of 49.2% to 47.9%.
“Round off these numbers and you have 49%, 49%, 49%, 49%, 48%, 48%, 48%, 49% and 48%,” Barone observes, calling it the tightest, longest-running split in national elections in 120 years.
Republican leaders are biting their nails at their narrow margin of control.
“I’m still trying to figure out who won the election,” said Jim Gilmore, Republican Governor of Virginia and Chairman of the Republican National Committee. “We split the popular vote, we spit the Senate 50-50, we split the House 50-50. Only the Republican governors are a force on the Republican side-Republicans cannot be happy about this.”
“The current balance of power is a golden opportunity for working Americans to show their power from the state capitol all the way to Washington,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “By focusing on pocketbook issues, we can assure our right to earn a good living, to belong to a strong union, to have safe jobs and real opportunities for our kids.
“With that focus, we can cut through the rhetoric, see who is working against us, and then support those who honor and value America’s workers,” Buffenbarger said.
Previous Page/Contents/Next Page