The Margin of Victory.

Public-opinion pollsters predicted the 2000 presidential election would be close. But because presidential elections are so rarely won by a whisker, no one imagined the ballot battle would go to the courts and last for five weeks. As the graphs below show, Presidents' margins of victory in the popular vote have usually been decisive. (Democrats are shown in gray, Republicans in black. Asterisks indicate the winners in close races.)

Sources: Vital Statistics on American Politics by Harold Stanley and Richard Niemi, Congressional Quarterly, 1990; Voter News Service.

1. In which years did the presidential races end up in virtual ties?

2. Which President won the White House with only a 2 percent lead in the popular vote? In which year was he inaugurated?

3. ...