Those electors then cast their votes for president. As a result, with Bush ahead by large margins in his home state of Texas and some western and southern states, and with Gore ahead by much smaller margins in many of his best states, the possibility exists that Bush could get more overall votes but Gore could win more electoral votes. That scenario is most probable if Gore wins by the narrowest of margins in California, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and some other battleground states. There have been whisperings in the Bush campaign that it might challenge the result if Gore loses the overall vote but wins the election, but constitutional scholars said a successful challenge is unlikely. Bellwether states .
Some states have a history of getting it right.
New Mexico has backed the winning candidate every time since it became a state in 1912 except 1976. Delaware has voted correctly every time except 1952. Missouri has supported the eventual president every time this century except 1956. If one candidate wins all of the bellwethers, he is very likely to be the next president.