There has been plenty of talk around the nation about the rare but increasingly probable possibility of an Electoral College tie between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. A tie would occur when each candidate receives 269 votes in the Electoral College, forcing the matter to be decided by Congress.

With razor thin margins showing up in polls across the country, it is slowly becoming a very real possibility that the leaders of America will have to dust off the Constitution to determine the path forward in selecting the president and vice president of the United States. Personally, I think it would be healthy for Americans to have a lively debate over the powers and structures tucked inside the nation’s founding document.

In the event of a tie in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives would choose the president. Since the Republicans are likely to control the House after next week’s election, Mitt Romney is likely to be the person elected president by the House of Representatives. To spice things up, the Constitution stipulates that the vice president shall be chosen by the members of the Senate and since the Democrats are likely to hold the Senate by a vote or two, Joe Biden is likely to be selected to serve as the next vice president, giving America a Romney-Biden administration. This scenario and ensuing political war will make the Bush-Gore fight in 2000 look like a game of rock-paper-scissors.

In addition to the possibility of a tie, there is the chance that the winner of the popular vote could lose the Electoral College, leaving us with a repeat of the 2000 election. The irony of the 2012 election is that the outcome would be the reverse of the 2000 election with the Democrat, President Obama, winning the Electoral College and not the popular vote. Of course, this would enrage the losing side just as it did in 2000. Nevertheless, we must remember that the country and world survived the 2000 election, and America and the world will still be here in four years regardless of who wins.

Finally, it is my opinion that it is unlikely that we will know who the next President of the United States will be on the night of Nov. 6. Unfortunately, it will be several days and maybe weeks before Americans and the world know who will be the leader of the largest economy and military. Let us all remember that we are Americans and we must unite behind the chosen leader and continue to rebuild our economy and improve the future for our children.

Remember to vote, and may God Bless America.

The last bite…

Last week, I had the pleasure of dining at Maurepas Foods in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. The service left something to be desired but the food as amazing. First, we started with a cheese plate from local providers. Then I got brave and ordered goat tacos. Yes, goat! It was great, and the spicy sauce they served with it added a nice touch. We finished the meal with mint chocolate ice cream sandwiches! I give goat tacos and ice cream sandwiches with bad service 3.5 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.