But first read his "piece":
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6596809/site/newsweek/ Among other "pulitzer worth" notes he writes that the votes that Bush "won" in Delaware and Warren counties "helped him to offset unprecedented Democratic turnout in Cuyahoga and other urban centers in Ohio..."
I'm not quoting Fineman literally, his point is that the 67.000 votes margin of Bush's "victory" on both counties helps to "explain" how the unelected Republican defeated Kerry. That's his argument.
Now let's define "unprecedented", never seen before is good, perhaps?
OK, let's check Cuyahoga 2000 and 2004 totals:
Bush 2000 : 192.099
Bush 2004 : 215.624
Gore 2000 : 359.913
Kerry 2004 : 433.262
So let's help "Howie" Fineman:
The democrat Kerry widens Gore's margin of victory from 168.000 to 218.000 votes this time, again, 50.000 more votes than in 2000.
That's good "Howie" right?
Look at Franklin county now:
Bush 2000 : 197.862
Bush 2004 : 234.196
Gore 2000 : 202.018
Kerry 2004 : 275.573
The democrat Kerry widens Gore's margin of victory from 4.000 to 41.000 votes. "Howie", that's 37.000 more votes!
Let's check now Hamilton county, to be "fair" with "Howie." Bush "won" there in 2000 and 2004:
Bush 2000 : 204.175
Bush 2004 : 215.639
Gore 2000 : 161.578
Kerry 2004 : 190.956
Psst!, "Howie", sorry, Kerry reduced Bush's margin there respect 2000 in roughly 18.000 votes.
Now let's review how "Howie" is trying to sell the product:
Delaware County:
Bush 2000 : 36.639
Bush 2004 : 52.237
Gore 2000 : 17.134
Kerry 2004 : 26.491
So we find a 6.000 votes "increase" for Bush.
Warren County (before and after a lockdown):
Bush 2000 : 48.318
Bush 2004 : 66.523
Gore 2000 : 19.142
Kerry 2004 : 25.399
So we just have to "agree" with "Howie" I guess, because the dumb numbers tell me that Bush "found" 12.000 more votes in Delaware county now + the 6.000 of Warren and there you have it!
18.000 more votes for Bush, OMG!!!
But, "Howie", don't add up Kerry's numbers that I've posted for you...they show a net gain for Kerry of 105.000 votes.
Howard Fineman you are a "fine one."
Next, take your "67.000 vote margin for Bush" and...shove it!