Redskins-Steelers: Outcome Could Swing 2008 Presidential Election

Most media and experts consider certain states like Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico to swing the election in favor of one candidate. However, the outcome of the Washington Redskins football games before the election seems to have an effect.

Since the 1940 Presidential Election, if the Redskins win their last game before the election, the party that won the popular vote last election wins the current one. If the Redskins lose, then the party that lost the popular vote wins the election.

Tonight the Redskins (6-2) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2). In the 2004 Election, the Republican Incumbent George W. Bush won the popular vote. Therefore, McCain Supporters will be cheering for the Redskins and Obama Supporters the Steelers.

The Redskins are 10-8 in those games, but have lost three of the last four. The last time the Redskins won was in 1996, with a 31-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Bill Clinton was reelected president.

The Redskins are 3-4 against the National Football Conference and 1-1 against the American Football Conference. Before the NFL-AFL merger, the Redskins were 6-3 in their last home game before the election.

Six of those games have been decided by seven points or less. Including 2000 when the Tennessee Titans defeated the Redskins 27-21. George W. Bush won the election over Al Gore after it went to the Supreme Court. The Redskins are 3-3 in those games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have played the Redskins twice in Washington’s final home game before the election and they have split.

When they were the Pittsburgh Pirates the Washington Redskins beat them 37-10 in 1940, resulting in Franklin Roosevelt getting reelected for a third term. In 1952, the Steelers defeated the Redskins 24-23. Dwight Eisenhower defeated Adlai Stevenson ending 20 consecutive years of Democrat Presidents.

ESPN will interview both Barack Obama and John McCain during halftime of the game. Currently Barack Obama is leading in most polls. Monday night could continue the Redskins streak of deciding the election or end it.

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