Phil’s Election Forecast [PHIL-OSOPHY]

I'm writing this fortune-telling political horoscope for entertainment value only, so you may have something to laugh at after all the ballots have been counted.

Consider this Phil's "Phorecast."

I'd pull out my divining rod if this was about water, but this election isn't about dowsing; to some, it will be about fracking, or to others, how to get the economy up and running again. Depending on geography, Americans think very differently.

I'll start with the way I think Americans will vote for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate will be split 50-50, the way it was on January 3, 2001, but then a Republican-turned-independent announced he would join the Democratic caucus, giving the Democrats majority control June 6, 2001. The vice president presides over the Senate but may only vote in order to break a tie; that is something I see happening in the future. I'm picturing the Democrats winning in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and North Carolina. I believe the Republicans win in Iowa, Montana Georgia and South Carolina. So the Republicans pick up one, Alabama, while the Democrats pick up four. That makes it Republicans 50, Democrats 50.

In the House, I believe the Democrats hold on and perhaps pick up about five seats, turning the Congress 237 Democrats to 198 Republicans.

"It is now post time." This presidential soothsaying was very exhausting – and I'm going to say it – taxing as well. As of this writing on November 2, 2020, I'm predicting President Donald Trump will get 273 electoral college votes and Joe Biden will get a close 265. One needs 270 electoral votes to win. I gave Biden Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona, and I gave Trump Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the nation.

Lastly, I'm speculating that the election is not going to be decided on election night or Wednesday morning, as in 2016. All things considered, counting will probably take at least 10 days or so to get all the results.

And that's my straw in the wind.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.