Hypothetical: It's Trump vs. Sanders vs. Bloomberg

[Reter]

It's Election Day 2016, and CNN and NBC have just called it. Trump is currently at 38%, and Sanders appears to have slightly edged him out with 39%. What people will be talking about for years to come is that Bloomberg took a highly respectable 23% of the vote, the most in by an Independent in over 100 years, and winning 2 states, NY and NJ. Republicans also retained the House and Senate, losing a few seats though.

However, the real blockbuster story of the night is that Bernie won 265 Electoral Votes, Trump 230, and Bloomberg 43, preventing anyone from getting the magical 270 needed to win.

Flash forward to January. The election goes into the House to decide. The do not vote in any of the top three. Instead they choose...Jeb Bush.

That bastard will find a way to sneak in anyway. I can totally see something like this happening. The Majority in the House would never support Trump in this situation. And there would be nothing we could do to stop this, such as suing to prevent it from happening. The establishment wins again, electing their own king.

[Nye Bevan]

1. That can't happen according to this website:

What happens if no presidential candidate gets 270 Electoral votes?

If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3 Presidential candidates who received the most Electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote. The Senate would elect the Vice President from the 2 Vice Presidential candidates with the most Electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html#no270

So the House would have to choose between Bernie, Trump and Bloomberg. And it's only one vote per state delegation.

[former9thward]

3. Exactly.

It would be between Trump and Bloomberg in the OP's scenario.

[Reter]

6. Yes, my mistake

In which case, they probably give it to Bloomberg. They hate Trump, and won't choose Bernie.

[Reter]

5. My mistake, I thought the House decides whoever they choose

So in that case, I think they give it to Bloomy. I wouldn't be too upset, since I'd take him over Trump.

[leveymg]

2. Money trumps democracy, again. Welcome to America

Another failing empire.

[pipoman]

4. No Bloomberg will only steal urban votes from Bernie and Trump wins....

Bloomturd is a Democratic spoiler

[BainsBane]

7. I think Bloomberg would stand a real chance

If Trump and Sanders both were the nominees. My guess is that he'd get more than 43 electors in that scenario. I also think he'd draw Republicans as well as Democrats. There are a lot of Republicans who just do not want to vote for Trump.

[Nye Bevan]

8. Plus, someone who can get himself elected three times as a Republican in NYC

should not be underestimated. Especially when he's willing to spend a billion dollars.