Returns for the 2012 presidential election showed President Obama leading the popular vote nationally with 62,610,003 tallies (or 50.6 percent) over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who had 59,133,398 (or 47.9 percent).
Obama led with 332 electoral votes, while Romney trailed with 206.
1610 got obama 1205 got mccain
270
It is impossible for candidates NOT to receive electoral votes. The president is solely elected upon electoral votes. At the current point in time a candidate MUST receive at least 270 electoral votes to win. If a candidate does not receive 270 votes, the U.S, House of Representatives elects the President from among the 3 candidates receiving the most electoral votes. 12th Amendment to the constitution
It is often assumed that candidates from states that have a lot of electoral votes will be well-known and, ideally, well-liked in the state they come from. (Often they have held a statewide office.) Therefore, in a presidential election, it is hoped that the candidate will have an advantage in their home state and will win its electoral votes.
Third party candidates have a difficult time winning electoral votes
The electoral votes in 1792 were George Washington (132), John Adams (77), George Clinton (50), Thomas Jefferson (4), and Aaron Burr (1). Burr received his 1 vote from Virginia. Washington and Adams also received electoral votes from Virginia. Kentucky cast all of its 4 electoral votes for Jefferson. No state gave electoral votes to all 5 candidates in 1792.
Barack Obama received 7 electoral votes from Oregon, winning the state with 1,037,291 votes compared to John McCain's 738,475 votes.
In order to elect a president , one candidate must receive more than half the votes. If more than two candidates receive votes, then it is possible that no one will get the required majority and you could say the electoral college is deadlocked. As of 2014, with the total of electoral votes being 538, it is also possible that two candidates could each receive 269. This tie vote would sent the election to the US Congress.
The House of Representatives votes for the President from among the top three electoral candidates, with each state delegation casting one vote.
Candidates need a majority of electoral votes to be elected. Because most states* award all of their electoral votes to the top candidate in that state, candidates do not need to win the national popular vote to win a majority of electoral votes. The result is that winning a few large population states (called swing states), even by a tiny margin, can guarantee election to the presidency. In 1876, 1888, and 2000, the winning candidate did not get the most popular votes nationwide.
There can not be a tie if the votes are divided between just two candidates since the total number of votes, 537, is an odd number. However, if more than two people receive votes, it is easily possible for a tie to occur.
Mr. Romney did not win the state of Minnesota in 2012; the state's ten electoral votes went to President Obama.
President Obama won Washington's 12 electoral votes in the 2012 presidential election.