Turn of a card may decide all
BY BEN MACINTYRE
THE presidential contest in New Mexico, and conceivably even the outcome of the whole election, could be settled in Wild West fashion: by a game of poker played between Al Gore and George W. Bush.
Fewer than 400 votes separate the two men in New Mexico, with ballots still being counted. Under state law, if the race ends in a tie, the outcome should be settled by drawing lots but in practice the traditional method has been to play a hand of five-card stud.
If Mr Bush wins Florida, but Mr Gore successfully challenges his narrow victory in New Hampshire, then New Mexico could hold the key to the White House.
After the chaos of “pregnant chads”, lawsuits and manual recounts, there might be poetic justice in an election settled by the luck of the draw, in a game of bluff and counter-bluff.
Undoubtedly, Mr Gore has the better poker face. Some say this is his only face. But Mr Bush’s misspent youth must have acquainted him with the inside of a card deck.
John Dendahl, New Mexico’s Republican Party chairman, pointed out that there would be little chance to demonstrate card-playing skill, or cheat, with only a single round to decide the issue. “That’s what’s been done in the past. Not even a whole game. Just one hand, and that takes dumb luck,” he said.
The last election to be settled at the card table was in December last year, when Jim Blanq, a Republican, and Lena Milligan, a Democrat, tied at 798 votes for the post of magistrate.
A hand of poker in the local courthouse gave the prize to Mr Blanq. In 1988 James Farrington became Mayor of Estancia on the back of an ace-high flush.
thetimes.co.uk
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