The Republicans seem to be pitching a shutout in the Electoral College, history-wise. It’s ironic that the first Electoral College decision involved a son of a former president. John Quincy Adams, in 1824, lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson. (There was no Democratic or Republican Party per se, during that time period.)

In the most contentious race outside of this 2000 election, Rutherford B. Hayes defeated Samuel Tilden by one electoral vote, 185-184. Oops! Seems Florida played a key part in this heated contest as well.

In the 1880s, Grover Cleveland suffered the same fate at the hand of Benjamin Harrison. Commonality, you ask? Adams, Tilden, Cleveland and now Gore won the popular votes of U.S. citizens only to lose in the Electoral College. A virtual shutout for Democrats.

It’s also interesting to note that all the Republican winners lost in their collective bids for a second term.

Paul Crowley

Hulls Cove