Observations and Predictions - These are the Only 538 votes that count. - All but 2 states are winner take all - Only 24 states have laws to punish faithless electors Electors chosen on Election Day meet in their respective state capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, at which time they cast their electoral votes on separate ballots for President and Vice President. A faithless elector is one who casts an electoral vote for someone other than the person pledged or does not vote for any person. Prediction: Obama will win popular vote on Nov 5 Superpacs: Will bribe and buy Faithless electors Dec 17, 2012: Romney will be elected by Electors All hell is about to break loose.
Exactly the opposite will happen. -- Romney will win the popular vote by a narrow margin. -- Obama will win the electoral vote by one or two states. (Republicans will maintain control of the House of Representatives and Democrats will maintain a slim majority in the Senate). Some people will be pissed, but the world will not end. There will be no rioting in the streets. Hell will not break loose. Politically, the next four years will look a lot like the last four years. (Economically, that's another story.)
No matter who wins the election there will be plenty of volatility. Problems in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and here in the US will move the markets.