Neat little problem
How many unique ways are there to acquire at least 270 electoral votes without any excess?
For example, one combination would be to win California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. That would be equal to 272 electoral votes (not coincidentally, these are the John Kerry states plus Ohio).
Note that there are no excess electoral votes in this combination: if you remove one of the states with three electoral votes, the number falls to 269, which is below the 270-EV cut-off. So winning all of these states plus North Dakota would not qualify, since the candidate has superfluous electoral votes. On the other hand, replacing Vermont with North Dakota would make for a unique combination.
Thinking combinatorics might help. I am stuck in the office tonight. Gonna be an all nighter. If you figure it out, let 538 know about it.
Comments
For example, politicos will often cite the same polls to come up with differing conclusions, such as the risible idea that the vast majority of Americans are clamoring to support illegal immigration.
Well, anyway, the polls are looking good for the democrats and the republicans are looking at quite a retrenchment in the Congress.